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The  Social  Evil 

n 

in  Chicago 


A STUDY  OF  EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


WITH  RECOMMENDATIONS  BY 


The  Vice  Commission  of  Chicago 

A MUNICIPAL  BODY  APPOINTED 
BY,  THE  MAYOR  AND  THE  CITY 
COUNCIL  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
CHICAGO  AND  SUBMITTED  AS  ITS 
REPORT  TO  THE  MAYOR  AND 
CITY  COUNCIL  OF  CHICAGO 


REPUBLISHED  BY 

The  Vice  Commission  of  Chicago,  Inc. 

FOR  DISTRIBUTION  BY  THE 

Atttmrati  Htgilanrp  AHsartattnn 

Central  Office  Eastern  Office  and  Library 

105  WEST  MONROE  ST  156  FIFTH  AVENUE 

CHICAGO  new  YORK  CITY 


Copyright  1911  by  The  Vice  Commission  of  the  City  of  Chicago 


Copyright  1911 
By 

The  Vice  Commission 
of  the 

City  of  Chicago 


First  Edition,  April  5th,  1911 
Second  Edition,  April  30th,  1911 
Third  Edition,  August  1st,  1911 
Fourth  Edition,  July  1st,  1912 


THE  VICE  COMMISSION  OF  CHICAGO. 


Dean  Walter  T.  Sumner, 

Chairman 

Edwin  W.  Sims, 

Secretary 


W.  L.  Baum,  M.  D. 

David  Blaustein 
Rev.  J.  F.  Callaghan 
Anna  Dwyer,  M.  D. 

W.  A.  Evans,  M.  D. 

Rev.  Albert  Evers 

Rev.  F.  W.  Gunsaulus,  D.  D. 

W.  W.  Hallam 

Abram  W.  Harris,  LL.  D. 

Wm.  Healy,  M.  D. 

Ellen  M.  Henrotin 
Rev.  Abram  Hirschberg 
Prof.  Charles  R.  Henderson 
Rev.  E.  a.  Kelly 


Rev.  J.  G.  Kircher 
Louis  O.  Kohtz 
P.  J.  O’Keeffe 
Judge  Harry  Olson 
Judge  M.  W.  Pinckney 
Alexander  Robertson 
Julius  Rosenwald 
L.  E.  Schmidt,  M.  D. 
Bishop  C.  T.  Shaffer 
Edward  M.  Skinner 
Prof.  Graham  Taylor 
Prof.  William  I.  Thomas 
Prof.  Herbert  L.  Willett 
John  L.  Whitman 


George  J.  Kneeland, 

Director  of  Investigation. 


Note.  James  M.  Hyde,  M.  D.,  one  of  the  original  members  of  The  Vice 
Commission,  died  September  6,  1910.  Prof.  Charles  R.  Henderson  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Mayor  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Hyde. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

Preface  1 

Outline  of  Study 13 

Resolution  of  Appreciation 21 

Introduction  and  Summary 25 

Proposed  Ordinance  51 

Recommendations  55 

Chapter  I.  Existing  Conditions  in  Chicago 69 

Chapter  11.  The  Social  Evil  and  the  Saloon  119 

Chapter  III.  The  Social  Evil  and  the  Police 143 

Chapter  IV.  Sources  of  Supply  163 

Chapter  V.  Child  Protection  and  Education 235 

Chapter  VI.  Rescue  and  Reform  261 

Chapter  VII.  The  Social  Evil  and  its  Medical  Aspects 289 

Appendices — Text  of  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  and  Ordinances 
of  the  City  of  Chicago 309 

Appendices — Tables  357 

Appendices — Exhibits  365 

Index  393 


618423 


PREFACE. 


On  January  31st,  1910,  a meeting  was  held  at  the  Central  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
Building,  Chicago,  by  the  Church  Federation  composed  of  Clergy  rep- 
resenting six  hundred  congregations  in  Chicago.  The  topic  for  dis- 
cussion was  the  Social  Evil  Problem  in  Chicago,  and  Dean  Sumner 
was  invited  to  read  a paper  on  the  subject.  At  its  conclusion  he 
presented  the  following  resolution: 

“ Resolved,  that  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Chicago  be  asked  to  ap- 
point a Commission  made  up  of  men  and  women  who  command  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  public  at  large,  this  Commission  to  inves- 
tigate thoroughly  the  conditions  as  they  exist.  With  this  knowledge 
obtained,  let  it  map  out  such  a course,  as  in  its  judgment,  will  bring 
about  some  relief  from  the  frightful  conditions  which  surround  us. 
Taking  this  report  as  a basis,  let  us  enlist  the  support  of  every  civic, 
protective,  philanthropic,  social,  commercial  and  religious  body  in  the 
city  to  carry  out  the  plans  suggested.  If  the  present  administration 
feels  that  it  cannot  subscribe  to  such  a plan,  make  the  report  the  basis 
of  a pledge  from  the  political  parties  at  the  next  election  and  make  it 
the  basis  for  an  election  issue.  But  first  get  the  plan.  The  city  press 
will  be  back  of  any  sane  movement  to  improve  present  conditions.  The 
Church  certainly  is.  Social  settlements  have  been  agitating  and  en- 
deavoring to  reach  some  decision.  The  general  public  is  in  a mood  to 
listen  to  such  conclusions  as  such  a Commission  would  reach.” 

This  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted  and  a committee  from  the 
Federation  of  Churches  was  appointed  to  call  upon  the  Mayor,  and 
present  it  to  him  for  his  consideration.  This  committee  was  composed 
of  the  following  named  gentlemen : 

Prof.  Herbert  L.  Willett,  University  of  Chicago; 

Rev.  J.  A.  Vance,  Pastor  of  the  Hyde  Park  Presbyterian  Church; 

Rev.  Smith  T.  Ford,  Pastor  of  the  Englewood  Baptist  Church, 
and  President  of  the  Church  Federation  Council; 

Rev.  Frank  D.  Burhans,  Pastor  of  the  Washington  Park  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  Vice-President  of  the  Church  Federation 
Council. 

Prof.  Benjamin  L.  Hobson,  Secretary  of  The  McCormick  Theo- 
logical Seminary. 

As  a result  of  a conference  with  this  Committee,  the  Mayor,  through 
his  Secretary,  transmitted  the  following  letter  to  Dean  Walter  T. 
Sumner,  under  date  of  March  5,  1910: 

61842 : 


2 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


“Dear  Sir: 

I am  directed  by  the  Mayor  to  say  that  he  has  appointed  you  a 
member  and  temporary  chairman  of  the  so-called  Vice  Commis- 
sion which  he  has  been  asked  to  appoint,  and  with  the  purpose  of 
which  you  are,  of  course,  familiar.  As  Chairman  of  said  Com- 
mission it  will  be  incumbent  upon  you,  of  course,  to  issue  the  call 
for  the  first  meeting  of  said  Committee. 

The  members  are  as  follows : 

Baum,  Dr.  W.  L.,  Chicago  Medical  Society; 

Blaustein,  David,  Superintendent,  Chicago  Hebrew  Institute ; 
Callaghan,  Rev.  James  F.,  Pastor,  Saint  Malachy’s  Roman  Cath- 
olic Church; 

Dwyer,  Dr.  Anna,  President,  Mary  Thompson  Hospital ; 

Evans,  Dr.  W.  A.,  Health  Commissioner; 

Evers,  Rev.  Albert,  Pastor,  Saint  Boniface’s  Roman  Catholic 
Church ; 

Gunsaulus,  Dr.  Frank  W.,  President,  Armour  Institute; 
Hallam,  W.  W.,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Chicago  Society  of 
Social  Hygiene; 

Harris,  Dr.  Abram  W.,  President,  Northwestern  University; 
Healy,  Dr.  William,  President,  Psychopathic  Institute ; 

Hyde,  Dr.  James  M.,  Professor,  Rush  Medical  College ; 

Henrotin,  Mrs.  Ellen  M.,  Federation  of  Women’s  Qubs; 
Hirschberg,  Rev.  Abram,  Rabbi,  North  Chicago  Hebrew  Con- 
gregation ; 

Kelly,  Rev.  E.  A.,  Pastor,  Saint  Anne’s  Roman  Catholic  Church ; 
Kircher,  Rev.  John  G.,  Pastor,  German  Evangelical  Church; 
Kohtz,  Louis  O.,  Agent,  Aetna  Fire  Insurance  Company; 
O’Keeffe,  P.  J.,  Lawyer. 

Olson,  Judge  Harry,  Chief  Justice,  Municipal  Courts; 

Pinckney,  Judge  Merritt  W.,  Judge,  Juvenile  Court; 

Robertson,  Alexander,  Vice-President,  Continental  National  Bank; 
Rosenwald,  Julius,  President,  Sears,  Roebuck  & Company; 
Schmidt,  Dr.  Louis  E.,  Professor,  Northwestern  IMedical  College ; 
Shaffer,  Bishop  C.  T.,  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ; 
Sims,  Edwin  W.,  United  States  District  Attorney ; 

Skinner,  Edward  M.,  Association  of  Commerce ; 

Sumner,  The  Very  Reverend  Walter  T.,  Dean,  Episcopal  Cathe- 
dral SS.  Peter  and  Paul ; 

Taylor,  Professor  Graham,  President,  Chicago  Commons; 
Thomas,  Professor  William  I.,  University  of  Chicago ; 

Willett,  Professor  Herbert  L.,  University  of  Chicago ; 

Whitman,  John  L.,  Superintendent,  House  of  Correction. 

I also  enclose  a copy  of  the  statement  sent  by  IMayor  Busse  to 
the  press  in  connection  with  appointment  of  the  Commission. 

Yours  very  truly, 

Bernard  J.  Mull.aney, 
Secretary  to  the  Mayor." 


PREFACE 


3 


mayor’s  statement  to  the  press. 

“ A short  time  ago  I received  a communication  from  representa- 
tives of  the  Federated  Protestant  Churches,  calling  my  attention  to 
vice  in  Chicago,  and  requesting  that  a Commission  be  appointed 
to  study  the  subject,  with  a view  to  determining  a plan  of  control 
as  well  as  considering  the  moral  and  physical  harm  which  results 
from  vice. 

These  are  the  most  perplexing  questions  with  which  modern 
civilization  is  confronted.  Since  Chicago  has  been  a city,  we 
have  drifted  as  regards  this  question.  In  this  we  have  not  differed 
from  other  American  cities. 

I think  we  can  fairly  assume  that  our  vice  problem  is  exactly 
like  that  of  any  American  city.  To  exploit  publicly  the  details 
of  it,  can  serve  no  useful  end  and  such  exploitation  is  not  the  pur- 
pose of  this  commission  proposition.  On  the  other  hand  exploita- 
tion may  do  much  harm  by  leading  the  uninformed  to  believe 
that  conditions  exist  here  which  are  of  recent  origin  or  which  are 
worse  than  exist  in  other  American  cities. 

As  a matter  of  fact,  the  conditions  incident  to  the  vice  problem 
in  Chicago, — a problem  as  old  as  the  city  itself — are  better  than 
they  have  ever  been  within  present  day  memory.  This  I think 
will  be  conceded  by  all  who  are  fully  acquainted  with  the  facts. 
But  we  all  want  still  better  conditions  if  they  can  be  had. 

Many  years  'ago,  the  authorities  of  the  city  attempted  to  localize 
vice  in  certain  districts  of  the  city.  From  time  to  time,  property 
holders  and  heads  of  families  have  objected  to  their  neighbors, 
thereupon  these  establishments  have  been  widely  scattered  over 
town.  The  various  neighborhoods  into  which  they  have  moved 
have  speedily  secured  enough  of  influence  to  drive  them  back  in- 
to the  neighborhoods  from  which  they  have  been  driven. 

Executives  have  acted,  in  doing  this,  with  the  best  of  motives 
and  often  times  with  the  advice  of  Ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and 
other  men  of  character.  The  only  criticism  that  can  be  offered  is 
that  none  of  these  moves  was  based  on  careful  investigation  and 
far-seeing  planning.  Our  statute  books — State  and  Municipal — 
are  crowded  with  laws  on  the  subject.  Quite  generally  such  laws 
have  been  ignored,  since  every  one  knew  that  they  were  not  based 
on  careful  thought,  either  by  trained  students  or  investigators, 
or  men  closely  in  touch  with  the  situation ; rather  have  they  grown 
out  of  temporary  outbursts  of  sentiment. 

I was  informed  that  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  New  York  City 
have  experimented  along  certain  lines.  Many  European  cities 
have  tried  certain  plans.  The  Japanese  government  has  proceeded 
along  certain  lines.  Investigation  will  probably  discover  many 
other  attempts  at  a solution  of  these  questions. 

We  can  as  a basis  agree,  I believe,  that  the  practices  as  to  vice 
in  Chicago  have  been  of  long  continuance ; and  that  in  this  respect 
we  are  no  better  and  no  worse  than  other  American  or  European 


4 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN'  CHICAGO 


cities.  These  conditions  are  with  us.  To  pretend  that  they  do  not 
exist  is  hypocrisy,  far-reaching  in  its  harmful  effects. 

These  premises  being  accepted,  we  find  there  are  many  questions 
springing  from  them  to  which  thinking  men  and  women,  careful 
students  of  society  and  government,  are  giving  deepest  thought. 
Such  questions  are: 

Should  the  existence  of  the  “social  evil”  and  of  the  men  and 
women  connected  with  it,  be  ignored  ? 

Should  vice  be  segregated?  If  so,  what  would  be  the  method 
of  maintaining  control  of  segregation  districts? 

What  is  the  best  method  of  controlling,  as  to  communicable  dis- 
ease, those  who  make  practice  of  vice  their  trade,  and  preventing 
spread  of  disease  amongst  innocent  men,  women  and  children  as 
well  as  among  practitioners  of  vice? 

What  treatment  of  vice  as  a disease  of  society  is  best  as  a 
protection  against  crimes  other  than  vice  ? 

What  treatment  of  vice  as  a disease  of  society,  is  best  for  all 
concerned  ? 

I am  sure  that  we  have  men  and  women  amongst  us  who  can 
help  us  in  finding  a slow  and  partial  solution  for  these  questions, 
pending  perfection  in  the  men  and  women  who  make  up  societv. 
We  will  welcome  such  help.  I am  sure  that  all  over  the  world 
governments  will  welcome  the  results  of  these  deliberations.  I 
therefore  respectfully  appoint  the  following  as  a commission  on 
the  problems  of  vice,  requesting  them  to  deliberate  on  the  question 
and  to  present  the  results  of  their  deliberations  for  the  consid- 
eration of  this  community  and  the  guidance  of  those  charged  with 
administration  of  the  municipal  government.” 

On  March  14,  1910,  the  Mayor  appointed  Bishop  C.  T.  Shaffer,  of 
the  African  M.  E.  Church,  as  a member  of  the  Commission. 

QRGANIZATION  OF  THE  COMMISSION. 

During  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Commission  on  March  15,  1910, 
held  in  the  Public  Library  Building,  the  temporary  officers,  Chairman, 
Dean  Walter  T.  Sumner,  Secretary,  Edwin  W.  Sims,  were  made  per- 
manent officers  of  the  Commission. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  resolution  was  submitted : 

“Resolved,  That  there  be  an  Executive  Committee,  consisting 
of  nine  members,  seven  of  whom  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Commission,  the  Chairman  and  the  Secretary  to  be 
ex-officio  members  of  the  Executive  Committee; 

“That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Executive  Committee  to  ar- 
range a program  of  study  and  investigation,  divide  the  Commis- 
sion into  committees,  assign  to  each  committee  the  subject  to  be  in- 
vestigated by  it,  and  from  time  to  time  consider  and  make  recom- 


PREFACE 


5 


mendations  as  to  the  methods  and  disposition  of  the  work  of  the 
Commission.” 

This  resolution  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Subsequently  the  Chairman  appointed  the  members  of  the  Executive 
Committee. 

This  committee  appointed  the  following  sub-committees : 

Committee  on  Existing  Conditions  in  Chicago. 

Committee  on  Social  Evil  and  Saloon. 

Committee  on  Social  Evil  and  Police. 

Committee  on  Sources  of  Supply. 

Committee  on  Social  Evil  and  Crime. 

Committee  on  Child  Protection  and  Education. 

Committee  on  Rescue  and  Reform. 

Committee  on  Literature  and  Methods. 

Committee  on  Medical  Questions. 

Committee  on  Law  and  Legislation. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Commission  on  May  5,  1910,  a motion 
prevailed  that  the  permanent  name  of  the  Commission  should  be  the 
“Vice  Commission.” 

A committee  was  appointed  to  appear  before  the  Committee  on 
Finance  of  the  City  Council  on  May  6,  1910,  and  request  that  an 
appropriation  be  made  for  the  work  of  the  Vice  Commission. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  City  Council  on  Monday,  June  27, 
1910,  Alderman  Foell  moved  to  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  the 
report  of  the  Committee  on  Finance  concerning  an  appropriation  for 
the  expenses  of  the  “Vice  Commission,”  deferred  and  published  May  9, 
1910,  page  143. 

The  motion  prevailed. 

Alderman  Foell  presented  an  ordinance  creating  a Commission  of 
the  City  Government  to  be  known  as  the  “Vice  Commission,”  and  ap- 
propriating the  sum  of  $5,000.00  for  the  expenses  of  the  said  Commis- 
sion during  the  year  1910. 

Alderman  Foell  moved  to  substitute  the  said  ordinance  for  the  ordi- 
nance recommended  in  the  report. 

The  motion  prevailed  and  the  said  substitute  ordinance  was  passed 
by  yeas  and  nays  as  follows : 

Yeas — Kenna,  Coughlin,  Shufelt,  Foreman,  Pringle,  Dailey, 
Richert,  Sheahan,  Long,  Parker,  Merriam,  Emerson,  Derpa,  Egan, 
Fick,  Scully,  Vavricek,  Cullerton,  Danisch,  Zimmer,  Fulton,  Buck- 
ley,  Lawley,  Lucas,  Utpatel,  Beilfuss,  Kunz,  Koraleski,  Sitts, 
Dever,  Healy,  Powers,  Bowler,  Stewart,  Murray,  Taylor,  Foell, 
Bauler,  Clettenberg,  Britten,  Haderlein,  Dunn,  Thompson,  Lipps, 
Reinberg,  Capp,  Wilson,  Littler,  Twigg,  Mueller,  McDermott, 


6 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Mclnerney,  Mahoney,  Kearns,  Bergen,  Fisher,  E.ea,  Reading, 
Block,  Donahoe,  Clark,  Forsberg — 62. 

Nays — None. 

The  following  is  the  said  ordinance  as  passed: 


AN  ORDINANCE  CREATING  THE  VICE  COMMISSION. 

Be  it  ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago: 

Section  1.  That  there  is  hereby  created  a commission  of  the 
city  government  to  be  known  as  the  “Vice  Commission,”  which 
shall  consist  of  thirty  members  to  be  appointed  by  the  Mayor. 

Section  2.  The  Mayor  shall  appoint  a chairman  of  the  Com- 
mission from  among  its  members.  The  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mission shall  call  meetings  of  the  Commission  whenever  he  may 
see  fit  and  whenever  he  shall  be  requested,  in  writing,  so  to  do 
by  any  five  members  of  the  Commission. 

Section  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Vice  Commission  and 
the  members  thereof  to  inquire  into  conditions  existing  within  the 
limits  of  the  city  with  reference  to  vice  of  various  forms  including 
all  practices  which  are  physically  and  morally  debasing  and  de- 
grading, and  which  afifect  the  moral  and  physical  welfare  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city. 

The  Commission  shall  from  time  to  time  transmit  to  the  Mayor 
and  the  City  Council,  a written  report  of  existing  conditions,  as  it 
may  find  them,  respecting  vice,  with  such  recommendations  as  it 
shall  deem  advisable  for  the  suppression  thereof. 

Section  4.  That  there  be  and  is  hereby  appropriated  from 
miscellaneous  receipts  for  the  year  1910  the  sum  of  five  thousand 
dollars  ($5,000.00)  for  the  payment  of  the  necessary  expenses  of 
the  Vice  Commission  to  be  paid  out  by  the  Comptroller  upon  the 
written  order  of  the  chairman  of  the  Commission. 

Section  5.  This  ordinance  shall  be  in  full  force  and  effect 
from  and  after  its  passage. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Vice  Commission  on  June  28,  1910, 
it  was  reported  that  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  City  Council  favored 
granting  the  Vice  Commission  funds,  the  question  had  arisen,  how- 
ever, as  to  the  legality  of  such  action  by  the  City  Council  with  respect 
to  the  Commission  as  then  constituted,  the  Corporation  Counsel  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  that  there  must  be,  in  order  to  make  such  action 
lawful,  the  appointment  of  the  Commission  by  the  Mayor  must  be  ap- 
proved by  the  City  Council ; that  he  understood  the  objectionable  points 
had  been  overcome  and  the  funds  should  be  voted  by  the  City  Council 
at  their  next  meeting. 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  City  Council  on  Tuesday,  May  5,  1910, 
the  following  communication  was  read : 


PREFACE 


“ Mayor's  Office, 
Chicago,  July  5,  1910. 

To  the  Honorable,  the  City  Council: 

Gentlemen  : In  accordance  with  the  power  vested  in  me  by 
an  ordinance  of  your  Honorable  Body,  passed  June  27,  1910  (page 
942  of  the  Proceedings),  I hereby  appoint  the  following  gentlemen 
members  of  the  commission,  to  be  known  as  the  Vice  Commission, 
and  ask  the ' concurrence  of  your  Honorable  Body; 

Dean  Walter  T.  Sumner, 

Dr.  W.  L.  Baum, 

David  Blaustein, 

Rev.  J.  F.  Callaghan, 

Dr.  Anna  Dwyer, 

Dr.  W.  A.  Evans, 

Rev.  Albert  Evers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Erank  Gunsaulus, 

W.  W.  Hallam, 

Dr.  Abraham  W.  Harris, 

Dr.  Wm.  Healy, 

Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Henrotin, 

Rev.  Abraham  Hirschberg, 

Dr.  James  M.  Hyde, 

Rev.  E.  A.  Kelly, 

Rev.  John  G.  Kircher, 

Louis  O.  Kohtz, 

P.  J.  O’Keeffe, 

Hon.  Harry  Olson, 

Judge  M.  W.  Pinckney, 

Alexander  Robertson, 

Julius  Rosenwald, 

Dr.  Louis  E.  Schmidt, 

Bishop  C.  T.  Shaffer, 

Hon.  Edwin  W.  Sims, 

Edward  M.  Skinner, 

Prof.  Graham  Taylor, 

Prof.  Wm.  I.  Thomas, 

Prof.  Herbert  L.  Willett, 

Hon.  John  L.  Whitman. 

Respectfully, 

(Signed)  Fred  A.  Busse, 

MayorC 

At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  City  Council  on  Monday,  July  11, 
1910,  Alderman  Foell  presented  an  ordinance  amending  an  ordinance 
passed  June  27,  1910,  creating  the  “Vice  Commission.” 

Unanimous  consent  was  given  for  the  consideration  of  the  said  ordi- 
nance. 

The  following  is  the  said  ordinance  as  passed : 


8 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


“Be  it  ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago: 

Section  1.  That  an  ordinance  heretofore  passed  by  this  Coun- 
cil on  June  27,  1910,  creating  a Vice  Commission,  and  shown 
at  page  942  of  the  Council  Proceedings  of  that  date,  be  and  the 
same  is  hereby  amended  by  adding  at  the  end  of  Section  4 in 
the  left  hand  column  the  following:  ‘and  the  Comptroller  shall 
set  up  this  appropriation  as  Account  No.  45  and  under  the  proper 
letters  designating  the  standard  accounts  in  accordance  with  the 
Appropriation  bill.’ 

Section  2.  This  ordinance  shall  be  in  force  and  effect  from 
and  after  its  passage.” 

On  July  15,  1910,  the  Vice  Commission  secured  offices  and  began 
active  work  with  Mr.  George  J.  Kneeland  in  charge. 

On  July  18,  1910,  the  chairman  announced  the  resignation  of 
Bishop  William  F.  McDowell,  on  account  of  absence  from  the  country. 

During  the  summer  the  business  of  the  Commission  was  attended 
to  by  the  Chairman  and  Executive  Committee. 

At  the  regular  meeting  on  September  28,  1910,  the  Chairman  an- 
nounced that  the  Mayor  had  appointed  Professor  Charles  R.  Hen- 
derson of  the  Chicago  University  as  a member  of  the  Vice  Commis- 
sion to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Dr.  James  M.  Hyde. 

On  motion  the  chairman  appointed  a committee  to  draw  up  appro- 
priate resolutions  commemorating  the  death  of  Dr.  Hyde. 

These  resolutions  were  submitted  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Vice 
Commission  on  October  25,  1910,  and  adopted  as  follows: 


“WHEREAS,  our  fellow  member,  James  Nevins  Hyde, 
having  been  taken  from  us  by  death, 

BE  IT  RESOLVED  by  us,  the  Vice  Commission  of  Chi- 
cago, sitting  in  general  session,  that  we  hereby  express  our 
sense  of  deep  sorrow  at  our  own  loss  of  anticipated  counsel 
and  advice,  and  of  our  earnest  sympathy  with  the  family  of 
the  deceased; 

AND,  FURTHERMORE,  that  we  order  this  resolution 
to  be  inscribed  upon  our  records  and  a copy  of  it  forwarded 
to  the  family.” 


PREFACE 


9 


In  addition  to  the  regular  meetings  of  the  Commission,  ninety- 
eight  conferences  were  held  during  a period  of  six  weeks.  These 
conferences  were  arranged  for  by  letters  of  invitation  and  by  press 
notices.  As  a result  representatives  appeared  before  the  Commis- 
sion from  philanthropic,  civic,  social  and  reform  and  business  organ- 
izations; among  these  were  the  following: 


Anti-Cigarette  League 
Anti-Saloon  League 
Baptist  Ministers’  Union 
Chicago  Deaconess’  Home 
Citizens’  Association 
Chicago  Law  and  Order  League 
Central  Howard  Association 
Congregational  Ministers’  Union 
Catholic  Abstinence  Union  of  Il- 
linois 

Chicago  Refuge  for  Girls 
Chicago  Rescue  Mission 
Douglas  Neighborhood  Club 
Brewers’  Exchange 
South  Park  Improvement  Asso- 
ciation 

Florence  Crittenton  Anchorage 
Prominent  citizens  were  also  h 


Hull  House 

Immigrant  Protective  League 

Juvenile  Court 

Juvenile  Protective  Association 

Legal  Aid  Society 

Lincoln  Center 

Law  Enforcement  League  of  the 
Northwest  Side 

Methodist  Brotherhood  of  Chi- 
cago 

Midnight  Mission 

Northwestern  University  Settle- 
ment 

Salvation  Army  Maternity  Home 

Retail  Liquor  Dealers’  Protective 
Association 


Inspectors  of  Police,  Captains,  Lieutenants  and  Patrolmen  were  like- 
wise heard  in  conference. 


At  various  times  interviews  were  held  with  keepers  and  inmates 
of  houses. 


At  a regular  meeting  of  the  Commission  held  January  5,  1911,  the 
chairman  appointed  a committee  to  appear  before  the  Finance  Com- 
mittee of  the  City  Council  to  ask  for  an  appropriation  of  five  thou- 
sand dollars  to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  Commission  for  the  year 
1911. 

The  petition  of  the  committee  was  granted  and  the  sum  of  five 
thousand  dollars  was  set  aside  in  the  annual  budget  for  1911,  for 
the  use  of  the  Vice  Commission. 


10 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


On  April  5th,  1911,  the  report  of  the  Vice  Commission  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago  and  the 
following  action  was  taken : 

The  Clerk  presented  the  following  communication  submitted  by  the 
Vice  Commission: 


Chicago,  III.,  April  5,  1911. 

Hon.  Fred  A.  Busse, 

Mayor  of  Chicago,  and  the 
Honorable,  the  City  Council, 


Sirs  : 

The  Chicago  Vice  Commission,  authorized  by  ordinance  of  the  City 
Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago  passed  June  27,  1910,  and  appointed 
by  you  under  date  of  July  5,  1910,  transmits  herewith,  in  compliance 
with  the  terms  of  the  ordinance,  its  report  on  existing  conditions  re- 
specting vice,  together  with  its  recommendations  for  the  suppression 
thereof. 

Very  respectfully, 


(Signed)  Edwin  W.  Sims, 
Secretary. 


(Signed)  Walter  T.  Sumner, 

Chairman. 


Alderman  Foell  moved  that  the  report  transmitted  with  the  fore- 
going communication  be  placed  on  file,  and  that  the  said  Commission  be 
continued  in  existence  until  June  1st,  1911,  or  until  such  time  there- 
after as  might  be  necessary  to  finish  its  outstanding  business.  The 
motion  prevailed. 

Alderman  Foell  thereupon  presented  the  following  order,  which  was, 
on  motion,  duly  passed : 

Ordered:  That  the  Vice  Commission  be  authorized  to  print,  pub- 
lish and  distribute  such  number  of  copies  of  its  report  as  the  appro- 
priation already  made  will  warrant  and  that  it  be  further  authorized 
to  print,  publish  and  distribute  such  extra  copies  of  its  report  as  the 
Commission  may  deem  necessary,  provided  that  the  publication  of 
such  extra  copies  be  without  expense  to  the  City. 


Outline  of  Study 
Made  by  the 
Commission 


OUTLINE  OF  STUDY  MADE  BY  THE  COMMISSION: 


I.  Committee  on  Existing  Conditions. 

1.  Houses. 

a.  Number. 

b.  Vocation. 

c.  Type. 

d.  Owners. 

e.  Keepers. 

f.  Number,  age,  previous  occupation  of  inmates. 

g.  Price,  character  and  amount  of  service  demanded. 

h.  Sanitary  conditions. 

i.  Character  of  neighborhood. 

j.  How  are  police  rules  obeyed. 

k.  What  are  the  police  relations  to  the  resorts. 

l.  Social  allurements  in  resorts. 

1.  Music. 

2.  Obscene  shows. 

3.  Liquor. 

4.  Dances,  etc. 

m.  Medical  inspection  in  resorts  at  present  time. 

n.  Extent  of  venereal  diseases. 

o.  Public  and  private  graft. 

p.  Robbing  of  patrons. 

q.  The  “Cadet”  problem. 

r.  Extent  of  use  of  cocaine  and  drugs  at  present  time. 

s.  Method  of  advertising. 

2.  Assignation  houses. 

a.  Number. 

b.  Location. 

c.  Character  of  neighborhood. 

d.  Methods  of  advertising. 

e.  Sale  of  liquors. 

3.  Hotels. 

a.  Number.  . 

b.  Location. 

c.  Prices  for  rooms. 

d.  Prices  of  women  who  solicit  for  these  places. 

4.  Lake  Boats. 

5.  Picnics. 

6.  “Kept”  women. 

7.  Manicure  parlors. 

8.  Massage  parlors. 

9.  Turkish  baths. 

10.  Dance  Halls. 

11.  Tenement  Houses. 


13 


14 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


II.  Committee  on  Social  Evil  and  Saloon. 

1.  How  the  saloon  makes  for  prostitution. 

a.  Saturday  night  dance. 

b.  Saloon  dance. 

c.  Vaudeville  and  music  in  the  saloons. 

d.  Women  in  the  saloons. 

e.  Solicitation. 

2.  Co-operation  between  the  saloon  and  resorts. 

a.  Resorts  with  entrances  through  saloons. 

b.  Bed  houses  and  saloons. 

c.  Midnight  closing. 

d.  The  sale  of  liquor  in  resorts,  sociability;  physical  influ- 

ence. 

e.  Joint  ownership  between  saloons  and  resorts. 

f.  Saloon  keepers  and  prostitutes. 

g.  Resort  runners  in  saloons. 

III.  Committee  on  Social  Evil  and  Police. 

1.  Efficiency  of  Police  under  present  conditions. 

2.  Records. 

a.  Character  of  records  desirable  to  be  kept : 

1.  Owners  of  property. 

2.  Houses. 

3.  Keepers. 

4.  Inmates. 

b.  Should  police  officers  be  permitted  to  retain  such  records, 
or 

1.  Should  they  be  filed  at  headquarters  as  official  matter. 

c.  Advisability  of  establishing  a bureau  at  headquarters  for 

records  of  entire  city,  and  from  which  point,  and 
through  which  bureau  a more  or  less  complete  control 
of  the  situation  might  be  had. 

3.  Inspection.  • 

a.  Should  police  inspection  and  surveillance  of  resorts  in- 
clude a room  to  room  visit  at  unstated  periods,  to 

1.  Search  for  liquor. 

2.  Examine  into  sanitary  conditions. 

3.  Collect  data  for  reports. 

4.  Listen  to  complaints. 

5.  See  that  rules  and  regulations  of  Department  are  car- 
ried out. 

4.  Protection,  question  of : 

a.  Police  protection  of  inmates  and  keepers  against  disturb- 

ance of  the  order  of  the  places. 

b.  Should  resorts  be  guaranteed  police  protection,  when  they 

comply  with  rules  and  regulations.  The  word  “protec- 
tection”  used  in  its  legitimate  sense,  and  not  in  the 


OUTLINE  OF  STUDY 


15 


sense  o£  guaranteeing  immunity  under  any  circum- 
stances whatever, 

c.  Preventing  tribute  to  police. 

5.  Police  detail,  should  the  same  police  officers  either  in  plain 
clothes  or  uniform  be  permitted: 

a.  To  remain  in  any  district  for  more  than  a brief  period 

of  time, 

b.  Should  police  rules  and  regulations  be  framed  and  dis- 

played in  each  room  of  a resort. 

IV.  Committee  on  Sources  of  Supply, 

1.  How  much  slavery  exists  among  women  in  Chicago? 

2.  What  is  the  extent  of  the  “cadet”  system ; runners  ? 

3.  What  is  the  extent  of  fake  marriages? 

4.  Prostitutes’  husbands. 

5.  How  are  girls  secured  abroad — from  what  state  or  country 

are  they  drawn? 

6.  How  are  they  secured? 

7.  How  are  they  held? 

8.  What  does  the  girl  get? 

9.  What  does  the  house  get? 

10.  How  much  service  must  she  render? 

11.  How  do  girls  escape? 

12.  Whit  can  be  done  to  stop  the  importation  of  girls  from 

abroad?  From  the  city?  From  the  country? 

13.  What  can  be  done  to  prevent  the  traffic  in  girls? 

14.  What  can  be  done  to  furnish  a way  of  escape  for  girls? 

15.  What  is  the  remedy  for  the  “cadet,”  the  fake  marriage  sit- 

uation, and  the  practices  of  other  deceit,  trickery  and 
fraud? 

V.  Committee  on  Social  Evil  and  Crime. 

1.  Contempt  for  law  on  the  part  of  those  promoting  the  Social 

Evil. 

2.  Relation  of  prostitutes  to  habits, 

a.  Whiskey. 

b.  Morphine. 

c.  Cocaine. 

d.  Murder. 

e.  Theft. 

3.  Are  resorts  necessary  to  prevent  rape,  and  violence  against 

children  and  innocent  women? 

4.  The  prostitute’s  man. 

5.  The  psychological  and  moral  effect  of  prostitution  on  the 

neighborhood. 

6.  The  criminal  history  of  the  old  prostitute. 

7.  Remedies. 

a.  Emasculation. 

b.  Permanent  confinement. 

c.  Parole  system. 


16 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


VI.  Committee  on  Child  Protection  and  Education. 

1.  Lectures  to  school  children;  to  boys  and  girls,  offices  and 

stores. 

2.  Sex  hygiene. 

3.  Venereal  diseases. 

4.  Improper  literature. 

5.  The  stage. 

6.  Children  near  sporting  houses. 

7.  Children  in  relation  to  segregated  prostitution. 

8.  Children  and  youths  employed  in  resorts. 

VII.  Committee  on  Rescue  and  Reform. 

1.  Houses  for  reformed  prostitutes. 

2.  Work  for  reformed  prostitutes. 

3.  Plan  for  getting  girls  out  of  debt  and  out  of  houses  of  pros- 

titution. 

4.  Hospitals  for  sick  prostitutes. 

5.  Venereal  disease  hospitals. 

6.  Maternity  homes  for  pregnant  prostitutes ; for  girls  illegiti- 

mately pregnant,  to  see  that  they  do  not  fall  into  houses  of 
prostitutes. 

7.  Homes  for  children  of  prostitutes. 

VHI.  Committee  on  Literature  and  Methods. 

1.  Literature: 

a.  All  literature  obtainable  in  all  languages. 

b.  Seek  co-operation  of  some  research  library  who  handle 

such  literature. 

c.  Furnish  all  the  members  of  the  Commission  with  list  of 

literature  covering  the  various  phases  of  the  subject 
from  time  to  time,  and  where  such  literature  may  be 
found. 

d.  Statistics  as  to  prostitution  in  relation  to  crime ; to  ve- 
nereal diseases ; to  illegitimacy. 

2.  Methods : 

a.  Methods  employed  in  other  cities  and  abroad. 

b.  Methods  proposed  but  not  adopted. 

IX.  Committee  on  Medical  Questions. 

1.  The  harm  done  by  venereal  diseases, — directly;  indirectly. 

For  example,  in  relation  to  blindness  and  sterility. 

2.  The  extent  of  venereal  disease  among  professional  prostitutes ; 

among  casual  prostitutes ; among  “kept”  women ; among 
men ; among  children ; among  innocent  women,  and  in  chil- 
dren’s hospitals. 


OUTLINE  OF  STUDY 


17 


3.  Remedies. 

a.  Preventive  medication. 

b.  Silver  in  the  eyes  of  newly  born  children. 

c.  Sanitation  in  houses  of  prostitution. 

d.  The  registration  of  venereal  disease. 

e.  Registration  of  prostitutes. 

4.  Medical  aspects  of  hospital  relief  for  venereal  cases : Pros- 

titutes, men,  women  and  children. 

5.  Laboratory  measures  for  the  control  of  syphilis,  gonorrhoea. 

6.  Inheritance. 

7.  Environment. 

8.  Sexual  history,  especially  with  relation  to  conception. 

9.  Medical  aspects  of  emasculation  of  criminals. 

a.  The  question  of  defectives,  especially  degenerates  and 
sexual  perverts. 

10.  The  prevention  of  conception  by  prostitutes. 

11.  Sterility  among  prostitutes. 

12.  The  illegitimate  child ; its  chance  of  living. 

13.  The  registration  of  maternity  hospitals,  homes  and  baby 

farms. 

14.  Psychology  of  the  system. 

X.  Committee  on  Law  and  Legislation. 

1.  The  laws  of  other  countries  in  relation  to  prostitution. 

2.  The  underlying  principles  of  police  power — devise  a legal 

basis  for  a control  which  probably  will  conflict  with  the 
lines  of  decisions  of  the  courts  of  this  country. 

3.  Methods  suggested  will  be  referred  to  this  committee  in  order 

that  this  committee  may  make  them  conform  to  the  broad 
principles  of  police  pqwer  for  which  the  Commission  may 
stand;  especially,  that  they  investigate  present  laws  which 
should  be  repealed. 

4.  New  laws  to  be  enacted  by  the  Legislature. 

5.  Treatment  of  children  as  witnesses. 

6.  A Commission  for  the  control  of  prostitution  with  a certain 

amount  of  Legislative  power. 

7.  Laws  controlling  segregation,  regulation  and  registration. 

8.  Laws  making  venereal  disease  a contagious  disease,  and  under 

this  provision  transferring  the  entire  question  to  health 
authorities. 

9.  Laws  with  reference  to  the  legitimatizing  of  the  illegitimate 

child. 

10.  Hygiene  and  sanitation. 

11.  Laws  to  prevent  the  detention  of  prostitutes  for  debt. 


Resolution 

of 

Appreciation 


RESOLUTION  OF  APPRECIATION. 


At  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Commission  when  the  final  vote  on 
its  report  was  taken,  the  following  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted  with  instructions  that  it  be  spread  on  the  records  of  the  Com- 
mission and  be  printed  in  its  report. 

Be  it  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Vice  Commission  of  Chi- 
cago hereby  express  their  high  appreciation  of  the  services  of  their 
executive  officers,  Dean  Walter  T.  Sumner,  Chairman,  and  Edwin 
W.  Sims,  Secretary. 

Dean  Sumner  has  presided  over  the  many  sessions  of  the  Commis- 
sion and  its  sub-committees  with  unvarying  courtesy  and  the  best  of 
good  fellowship.  Throughout  the  prolonged  and  trying  inquiries  his 
steadfastness  and  patience  have  been  equal  to  the  ordeal.  In  col- 
lecting the  voluminous  and  complex  data  gathered  and  canvassed  and 
in  formulating  in  large  part  the  text  of  the  report  he  has  proved  him- 
self to  be  adequate  to  the  exacting  task  both  in  constructive  ability 
and  in  his  spirit  of  concession  to  the  opinions  of  his  colleagues. 

Mr.  Sims’  legal  ability  and  experience  in  the  discovery,  punish- 
ment and  prevention  of  crimes  against  immigrant  women,  as  prosecut- 
ing officer  of  the  United  States  Court  have  been  of  invaluable  serv- 
ice throughout  the  work  of  the  Commission.  His  judicial  judgment, 
tempered  by  warm  sympathy  and  working  through  self-exacting  co- 
operative effort  with  every  phase  of  the  Commission’s  inquiry  and 
deliberation,  has  contributed  valuably  to  the  thoroughness  and  practi- 
cal conclusions  of  this  difficult  and  delicate  inquiry. 

To  the  ability  and  spirit  of  their  Chairman  and  Secretary,  the  Com- 
mission owes  much  of  its  ability  to  render  a unanimous  report. 


21 


Introduction 

and 

Summary 


CONSTANT  AND  PERSISTENT  REPRESSION  OF  PROSTI- 
TUTION THE  IMMEDIATE  METHOD:  ABSOLUTE  AN- 
NIHILATION THE  ULTIMATE  IDEAL. 


Such  is  the  recommendation  of  this  Commission.  That  it 
may  be  put  in  force  effectually  and  unremittingly  we  fur- 
ther recommend: 


FIRST:  THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  A MORALS  COMMISSION. 

SECOND:  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A MORALS  COURT. 

The  honor  of  Chicago,  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  her  children, 
the  physical  and  moral  integrity  of  the  future  generation  de- 
mand that  she  repress  public  prostitution. 

Prostitution  is  pregnant  with  disease,  a disease  infecting  not  only 
the  guilty,  but  contaminating  the  innocent  wife  and  child  in  the  home 
with  sickening  certainty  almost  inconceivable ; a disease  to  be  feared 
with  as  great  horror  as  a leprous  plague ; a disease  scattering  misery 
broadcast,  and  leaving  in  its  wake  sterility,  insanity,  paralysis,  the 
blinded  eyes  of  little  babes,  the  twisted  limbs  of  deformed  children, 
degradation,  physical  rot  and  mental  decay. 

That  there  must  be  constant  repression  of  this  curse  on  human 
society  is  the  conclusion  of  this  Commission  after  months  of  exhaust- 
ive study  and  investigation — a study  which  has  included  the  academic 
with  the  practical;  moral  ideals  with  human  weaknesses;  honesty  of 
administration  with  corruption ; the  possible  with  the  impossible.  It 
has  sought  to  meet  all  questions  fairly;  it  has  made  every  effort  to 
work  with  intelligence ; it  has  kept  constantly  in  mind  that  to  offer  a 
contribution  of  any  value  such  an  offering  must  be,  first,  moral ; sec- 
ond, reasonable  and  practical ; third,  possible  under  the  Constitutional 
powers  of  our  Courts;  fourth,  that  which  will  square  with  the  public 
conscience  of  the  American  people. 

We  believe  that  Chicago  has  a public  conscience  which,  when 
aroused,  cannot  be  easily  stilled — a conscience  built  upon  moral  and 
ethical  teachings  of  the  purest  American  type — a conscience  which 


25 


26 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


when  aroused  to  the  truth  will  instantly  rebel  against  the  Social  Evil 
in  all  its  phases. 

Some  who  have  a superficial  knowledge  of  the  “Continental  System” 
of  segregation  and  regulation  based  on  a cursory  reading  or  surface 
investigation  might  bring  it  forward  as  a method  of  relief.  One  has 
but  to  read  scientific  works  on  the  subject;  to  study  the  reports  of 
international  conferences  held  in  Europe,  and  to  hear  the  findings 
of  careful  investigators  to  see  the  unreliability  and  futility  of  such  a 
system,  and  to  learn  of  its  failures  as  a permanent  institution  wherever 
it  has  been  undertaken  in  this  country  or  abroad.  The  Commission 
is  convinced  that  the  so-called  System  has  proved  itself  degenerating 
and  ineffective. 

Furthermore  the  overwhelming  majority  of  the  citizens  of  Chi- 
cago, and  the  fathers  and  mothers  of  her  children  will  never  coun- 
tenance the  recognition  or  legalization  of  a commercial  business 
which  spells  only  ruin  to  the  race.  It  is,  therefore,  incumbent  upon 
us  to  take  a bold  stand  against  this  curse  of  society.  It  behooves  us 
to  raise  social  life  to  the  highest  possible  standard  of  righteousness — 
to  teach  the  youth  of  our  land  loyalty  and  honor  to  womanhood. 

The  immensity  of  the  Social  Evil  problem  is  no  excuse  for  us  to 
stand  idly  by  and  do  nothing  in  an  attempt  to  solve  it.  The  sin  of 
impurity  may  not  be  cured  in  a day,  a year,  or  perhaps  in  genera- 
tions. But  that  prostitution  as  a commercialized  business  or  any- 
thing akin  to  it,  is  necessary,  can  never  be  conceded.  We  assume  that 
by  earnest,  wise,  united,  and  persistent  effort  on  the  part  of  indi- 
viduals and  organized  groups  in  society,  we  can  do  something— how 
much  we  can  only  discover  by  trial.  To  say  we  can  do  nothing  may 
be  left  to  the  morally  inert;  of  course,  they  can  do  nothing — ^but 
evil. 

As  plagues,  epidemics  and  contagious  diseases  old  as  the  world 
have  given  way  before  the  onslaught  of  medical  science;  as  slavery 
in  this  country  has  been  rooted  out  by  the  gradually  growing  con- 
viction of  an  American  conscience ; so  may  the  Social  Evil  be  re- 
pressed proportionately  as  the  American  people  grow  in  righteousness 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  this  curse,  which  is  more  blasting  than  any 
plague  or  epidemic;  more  terrible  than  any  black  slavery  that  ever 
existed  in  this  or  any  other  country ; more  degenerating  to  the  morals 
and  ideals  of  the  nation  than  all  other  agencies  against  decency  com- 
bined. 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


27 


We  may  enact  laws;  we  may  appoint  Commissions;  we  may  abuse 
Civic  administrations  for  their  handling  of  the  problem ; but  the  prob- 
lem will  remain  just  as  long  as  the  public  conscience  is  dead  to  the 
issue  or  is  indifferent  to  its  solution. 

The  law  is  only  so  powerful  as  the  public  opinion  which  supports 
it.  It  is  the  habit  of  Americans  when  they  make  laws  to  insist  on 
ethical  ideals.  They  will  not  compromise.  They  have  been  endowed, 
however,  with  a fine  ability  to  be  inconsistent,  and  having  once  de- 
clared their  ideals  to  find  no  difficulty,  when  it  comes  to  the  admin- 
istration of  the  laws,  to  allow  officials  to  ignore  them ; to  do  things 
not  in  the  laws ; and  to  substitute  a practice  which  is  a defacto  law, 
though  technically  illegal.  This  is  the  basis  of  graft  and  the  greatest 
evil  in  Municipal  government. 

Commissions  may  be  appointed.  However  valuable  their  findings 
and  recommendations  may  be,  unless  the  public  insist  no  changes  in 
the  situation  will  obtain. 

The  Social  Evil  in  its  worst  phases  may  be  repressed.  So  long  as 
there  is  lust  in  the  hearts  of  men  it  will  seek  out  some  method  of  ex- 
pression. Until  the  hearts  of  men  are  changed  we  can  hope  for  no 
absolute  annihilation  of  the  Social  Evil.  Religion  and  education  alone 
can  correct  the  greatest  curse  which  today  rests  upon  mankind.  Eor 
this  there  is  a mighty  work  for  agencies  and  institutions  of  righteous- 
ness in  our  land. 

With  these  facts  in  mind  the  Commission  has  squarely  faced  the 
problem.  It  has  tried  to  do  its  duty  by  placing  before  the  public 
the  true  situation  in  Chicago.  It  presents  recommendations  carefully 
and  conscientiously  drawn.  Its  contribution  to  the  subject  of  the 
Social  Evil  has  to  do  most  particularly  with  Chicago  and  her  prob- 
lems. The  Commission  entertains  the  hope,  however,  that  its  find- 
ings, its  discussions,  and  its  recommendations  may  help  other  similar 
Municipal  Commissions  in  their  work  and  deliberations.  The  first 
Commission  to  be  appointed  by  a municipality  and  financed  from  the 
City  Treasury,  it  has  begun  by  blazing  the  way.  Other  Commissions 
with  the  experience  and  knowledge  gained  from  this  first  municipal 
effort  may  go  farther  and  present  greater  contributions  to  the  sub- 
ject. We  sincerely  hope  that  such  will  be  the  case. 

Attitude  of  Commission.  Throughout  this  report  the  Commission 
has  made  every  effort  to  publish  only  such  results  as  would  give  the 


28 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


municipality  a correct  and  unexaggerated  idea  of  conditions.  At  all 
times,  while  honest  in  the  statement  of  conditions,  it  has  assumed 
an  ultra-conservative  attitude  in  its  criticisms.  It  believes  that  only 
through  such  an  honest  and  conservative  study  can  the  true  situation 
be  given  to  the  citizens  of  the  city.  _ Its  statements,  therefore,  are 
not  made  to  bring  discredit  upon  the  city.  Loyalty  is  a prime  requi- 
site of  good  citizenship.  In  that  loyalty  which  is  based  upon  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  its  conditions  and  without  seeking  to  con- 
demn other  cities,  the  Commission  desires  to  state  its  belief  that,  in 
contrast,  Chicago  is  far  better  proportionately  to  its  population  than 
most  of  the  other  large  cities  of  the  country.  This  statement  is  made 
after  a careful  study  of  conditions  in  fifty-two  of  the  largest  cities 
oi  the  country — a study  based  on  the  replies  received  from,  first,  the 
City  Clerk,  second,  the  head  of  the  Health  Department,  and  third. 
Superintendent  of  Police  in  these  fifty-two  municipalities.  In  addition 
personal  investigation  by  the  Commission  was  conducted  in  some 
fifteen  of  the  largest  of  these  cities.  Much  data  is  in  the  possession 
of  the  Commission  showing  the  conditions  existing  elsewhere  upon 
which  to  base  its  conclusions. 

Criticism.  The  Commission  has  refrained  from  unnecessary  criti- 
cism of  public  officials.  Present  day  conditions  are  better  in  respect 
to  open  vice  than  the  city  has  known  in  many  years.  But  they  are 
by  no  means  a credit  to  Chicago.  However,  this  must  be  remem- 
bered; they  are  not  unique  in  the  history  of  the  city.  Present  day 
public  officials  are  no  more  lax  in  their  handling  of  the  problem  than 
their  predecessors  for  years ; as  a matter  of  fact,  the  regulations  re- 
specting flagrant  and  open  prostitution  under  the  present  police  ad- 
ministration are  more  strict  in  tone  and  repressive  in  execution  than 
have  been  issued  or  put  in  operation  for  many  years.  Public  opinion 
has  made  no  united  demand  for  a change  in  the  situation.  The  Com- 
mission feels,  therefore,  that  all  public  officials  who  are  equally  re- 
sponsible for  the  present  conditions  are  equally  open  to  criticism. 
Further,  that  the  greatest  criticism  is  due  the  citizens  of  Chicago,  first, 
for  the  constant  evasion  of  the  problem,  second,  for  their  ignorance 
and  indifference  to  the  situation,  and  third,  for  their  lack  of  united 
effort  in  demanding  a change  in  the  intolerable  conditions  as  they  now 
exist. 

The  Police.  No  one  will  doubt  that  in  many  instances  such  an 
attitude  on  the  part  of  the  public  and  their  officials  leads  to  the  break- 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


29 


ing  down  of  the  morale  of  the  police.  But  to  make  the  sweeping 
statement  of  general  inefficiency  and  dishonesty  would  be  unjust  to  a 
large  number  of  men  endeavoring  to  do  their  duty.  The  Commission 
believes,  therefore,  that  the  large  majority  of  the  police  are  honest  and 
efficient;  it  believes  that  some  are  neither  honest  nor  efficient.  For  the 
former  it  has  the  warmest  praise — for  the  latter  it  has  the  most  se- 
vere condemnation.  If  the  citizens  cannot  depend  upon  the  men  ap- 
pointed to  protect  their  property,  and  to  maintain  order,  then  chaos 
and  disorganization  resulting  in  vice  and  crime  must  follow.  In  the 
interest  of  good  government  and  a competent  police  regime,  and  in 
justice  to  the  honest  and  conscientious  men  of  the  department  who 
desire  to  do  their  duty,  the  dishonest  and  incompetent  should  be 
driven  out  most  speedily.  For  the  type  of  officer  who  frequents 
saloons  and  drinks  openly  with  prostitutes,  who  acts  as  a guide  to 
houses  of  assignation,  and  who  recommends  certain  women  for  the 
purpose  of  prostitution — for  this  type  of  police  officer  Chicago  has  no 
place. 

As  above  stated,  the  Commission  does  not  condemn  the  pefsonnel 
of  the  police  as  a whole,  but  it  does  condemn  the  System — a System 
which  has  grown  notoriously  inactive  in  the  handling  of  the  Social 
Evil,  partly  because  of  the  tolerative  attitude  of  the  citizens  of  Chi- 
cago and  partly  because  of  its  own  desire  to  perpetuate  itself  as  a 
System : A System  which  makes  it  easier  for  the  police  to  accept 
graft  from  the  tremendous  profits  reaped  from  the  sale  in  women’s 
bodies  than  to  honestly  do  their  duty.  All  credit  to  the  great  body 
of  men  who  have  withstood  these  temptations,  and  who  some  day  will 
find  a condition  where  their  courage  will  be  amply  rewarded. 

A Word  of  Appreciation.  To  the  Honorable  Fred  A.  Busse, 
Mayor  of  Chicago,  belongs  the  honor  and  distinction  of  having  ap- 
pointed this,  the  first  Municipal  Commission  to  study  the  existing 
conditions  of  a great  city  respecting  vice  and  to  report  such  recom- 
mendations as  it  may  deem  advisable  for  the  suppression  thereof. 
This  fact  in  itself  speaks  more  forcibly  than  any  mere  words  of  appre- 
ciation which  this  Commission  might  offer  for  the  honor  and  privi- 
lege extended  to  its  members. 

Credit  likewise  belongs  to  the  members  of  the  City  Council  in  that 
they  unanimously  concurred  in  the  recommendation  of  the  Mayor  and 


30 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


appropriated  the  funds  used  in  the  preparation  and  the  printing  of 
this  report. 

Reports  of  Committees.  The  plan  of  work  as  outlined  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  Commission’s  study  was  to  give  certain  subjects  to 
different  Committees  asking  them  to  inquire  into  their  subjects  and 
report  to  the  Commission  as  a whole.  It  was  found,  however,  that 
the  subjects  overlapped  and  as  a result  the  different  Committees  re- 
ported on  subjects  assigned  to  other  Committees.  It  has  been  neces- 
sary, therefore,  to  classify  this  material  and  bring  it  all  under  proper 
headings.  This  has  meant  a re-arrangement  of  the  reports,  so  that 
the  separate  chapters  are  not  the  work  of  any  special  Committee,  but 
a compilation  of  the  work  of  several  Committees.  In  other  words 
the  full  report  stands  as  the  report  of  the  Commission  as  a whole, 
and  no  one  chapter  can  be  designated  as  the  findings  of  any  special 
Committee,  although  the  title  of  the  chapter  is  the  same  as  the  name 
of  the  Committee  given  in  the  preface. 

Scope  of  Commission’s  Work.  The  Commission  is  an  investigating 
and  not  a prosecuting  body.  The  ordinance  by  which  it  was  created 
gave  it  no  powers  of  prosecution  and  specifically  stated  the  object  in 
view  to  be — to  obtain  the  results  of  a scientific  study  of  existing  condi- 
tions and  to  point  out  methods  of  relief  for  such. 

The  Commission  has  cai'efully  omitted  from  the  report  all  names 
of  offenders  against  the  law,  as  well  as  addresses.  It  has  also  re- 
frained from  publishing  the  numbers  of  police  officers  who  have  been 
actually  seen  violating  police  rules  regarding  conduct  while  on  duty 
as  well  as  overlooking  the  violation  of  the  law  and  of  police  regula- 
tions. In  place  of  these  the  Commission  has  used  the  letter  “X”  with 
a number  following.  These  definite  addresses,  names  and  numbers, 
however,  are  on  file  in  the  records  of  the  Commission. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  typical  cases  throughout  the  report 
are  taken  from  the  daily  reports  of  the  field  investigators  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Commission  and  are  given  as  their  findings. 

Investigations  The  Commission  entering  upon  its  duties  decided 
that  the  first  step  was  to  learn  of  present  conditions  in  the  City  of 
Chicago.  Mr.  George  J.  Kneeland  was  secured  as  Director  of  In- 
vestigation to  take  charge  of  the  investigation,  organize  the  work  and 
assist  in  the  preparation  of  the  final  report.  ]\Ir.  Kneeland  is  a col- 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


31 


lege  graduate,  a social  worker  of  experience,  and  has  had  charge  of 
important  investigations  in  other  cities.  It  was  in  connection  with  the 
work  of  the  Research  Committee  of  the  Committee  of  Fourteen  of 
New  York,  for  which  he  had  charge  of  the  field  investigation,  that  the 
Commission  came  in  touch  with  him.  The  Commission  desires  to  ex- 
press the  deep  obligation  which  the  Commission  and  the  community  are 
under  for  his  painstaking,  efficient,  and  conscientious  efforts,  and  the 
Commission  does  so  in  these,  its  opening  paragraphs. 

Trained  expert  investigators,  both  men  and  women,  highly  recom- 
mended for  their  efficiency  and  reliability,  were  placed  in  the  field. 
The  full  results  of  their  findings  it  is  impossible  to  publish;  first,  be- 
cause of  the  volume,  and,  second,  because  of  their  unprintable 
character. 

Two  Standards  of  Morality.  Unfortunately  there  are  two  stand- 
ards of  morality  in  Chicago.  One  standard  permits  and  applauds 
dances  by  women  almost  naked  in  certain  public  places  under  the  guise 
of  art,  and  condemns  dances  no  worse  before  audiences  from  the  less 
prosperous  walks  of  life.  This  same  hypocritical  attitude  drives  the 
unfortunate  and  often  poverty  stricken  prostitute  from  the  street,  and 
at  the  same  time  tolerates  and  often  welcomes  the  silken  clad  pros- 
titute in  the  public  drinking  places  of  several  of  the  most  preten- 
tious hotels  and  restaurants  of  the  city.  Houses  of  prostitution  patron- 
ized by  the  lowly  are  closed  at  various  times  for  various  reasons,  but. 
the  gilded  palaces  of  sin  patronized  by  the  wealthy  are  immune  from 
punishment,  even  to  the  extent  of  being  saved  the  humiliation  of  ap- 
pearing upon  a police  list. 

Ignorance  of  Conditions  — Certainty  Concerning  Methods.  This 
Commission  has  been  greatly  impressed  in  its  studies  with  these  two 
facts : first,  the  citizen’s  wilful  ignorance  of  the  immoral  conditions 
within  the  city,  and  second,  his  off-hand  advice  as  to  the  proper  meth- 
ods of  handling  the  vice  problem,  given  with  absolute  confidence  and 
finality.  The  Commission  has  met  this  latter  fault  with  real  sym- 
pathy. Its  members  entered  upon  the  initial  deliberations  and  inves- 
tigations with  a similar  certainty.  As  time  went  on  and  facts  were 
presented  this  certainty  as  to  the  best  solution  of  the  problem  grad- 
ually disappeared.  A period  of  revulsion  against  conditions  and  of 
doubt  as  to  the  best  course  to  pursue  followed.  Then  began  the 
constructive  period,  months  filled  with  progressive  studies  based  upon 


32 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


incontrovertible  facts,  with  never  a backward  step,  illuminating  con- 
ferences, wide-spread  investigations  in  other  cities  as  well  as  Chi- 
cago, the  fullest  possible  discussion  and  debate  amongst  its  mem.bers 
in  frequent  meetings  often  times  from  four  to  twelve  hours  in  dura- 
tion, with  the  result  that  new  uncertainty  was  changed  to  a final  cer- 
tainty and  thirty  minds  were  absolutely  unanimous  in  their  conclusions. 
We  believe  such  harmonious  unanimity  on  the  part  of  men  and  women 
representing  so  many  diversified  callings  in  life,  and  so  many  groups  of 
society,  must  be  a fair  indication  of  the  public  mind  and  conscience 
of  the  citizens  of  Chicago.  Again,  this  unanimity  gives  to  the  de- 
cision a weight  which  it  could  not  have  possessed  had  there  been  a 
decided  difference  of  opinion  amongst  its  members  with  the  possible 
presentation  of  a minority  report. 

What  is  the  situation  today  in  Chicago?  In  detail,  this  may  be 
learned  in  the  first  Chapter  of  this  report ; as  a summary  we  call  es- 
pecial attention  to  the  facts  which  follow. 


Prostitution  a Commercialized  Business.  The  first  truth  that  the 
Commission  desires  to  impress  upon  its  citizens  of  Chicago  is  the  fact 
that  prostitution  in  this  city  is  a Commercialized  Business  of  large 
proportions  with  tremendous  profits  of  more  than  Fifteen  Million 
Dollars  per  year,  controlled  largely  by  men,  not  women.  Separate 
the  male  exploiter  from  the  problem,  and  we  minimize  its  extent  and 
abate  its  flagrant  outward  expression.  In  addition  we  check  an  arti- 
ficial stimulus  which  has  been  given  the  business  so  that  larger  profits 
may  be  made  by  the  men  exploiters.  It  is  abhorrent  to  the  moral  sense 
of  a community  like  Chicago — the  second  largest  city  in  the  country' — 
a city  rightly  ambitious  to  stand  high  in  the  world’s  achievements  for 
civic  and  social  betterment — that  there  should  be  within  its  borders 
a group  or  groups  of  men,  vicious  and  ignorant  to  a degree — who  are 
openly  and  defiantly  breaking  the  laws  of  the  State,  and  bringing  into 
ill  repute  the  honor  of  the  city.^ 

In  juxtaposition  with  this  group  of  professional  male  exploiters 
stand  ostensibly  respectable  citizens,  both  men  and  women,  who  are 
openly  renting  and  leasing  property  for  exorbitant  sums,  and  thus 


See  Chapter  I,  “ Existing  Conditions.’ 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


33 


sharing,  through  immorality  of  investments,  the  profits  from  this 
Business.  A Business  which  demands  a supply  of  five  thousand  souls 
from  year  to  year  to  satisfy  the  lust  and  greed  of  men  in  this  city 
alone.  These  statements  may  seem  exaggerated  and  highly  colored, 
but  a careful,  ultra  conservative  study  of  conditions  in  this  municipality 
has  put  the  Commission  in  possession  of  absolute  facts  upon  which 
to  base  these  conclusions.  No  language  can  be  too  strong,  no  con- 
demnation too  severe,  for  those  who  have  brought  upon  Chicago  this 
intolerable  situation. 

Present  Laws  Not  Enforced.  In  the  second  place  the  Commission 
believes  that  something  can  be  done  by  law  honestly  and  efficiently 
administered.  Practically  no  attempt  has  been  made  in  Chicago  to  en- 
force the  present  laws.^  In  place  of  enforcing  the  law  the  police  have 
been  allowed  to  adopt  arbitrary  rules  and  uncertain  regulations  of  their 
own,  whereby  certain  sections  of  the  city  have  become  restricted  dis- 
tricts. Here  they  established  their  own  regulations  which  were  with- 
out adequate  legal  foundation.  We  have,  then,  a combined  administra- 
tive and  legislative  power  in  the  hands  of  a department  of  the  local  gov- 
ernment, which,  in  turn,  is  in  closest  touch  with,  and  influenced  by, 
the  political  factors  within  the  city.  With  the  tremendous  financial 
profits  from  the  Social  Evil  Business  from  which  to  draw  funds,  is 
it -any  wonder  that  the  administrative  function  is  tempered  and  ex- 
ceptions made?  Where  one  makes  a rule  which  is  known  to  be  in 
itself  contrary  to  law,  is  it  not  to  be  expected  that  a corresponding 
sense  of  freedom  will  result  where  the  question  of  leniency  is  raised 
as  to  its  enforcement?  Again,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  law 
cannot  be  made  subservient  to  any  rules  and  regulations  by  any  group 
of  officials,  whether  the}''  believe  the  law  wise  or  unwise,  effective  in 
operation  or  futile  in  execution. 

Number  of  Prostitutes.  What  is  the  number  of  prostitutes  in  the 
City  of  Chicago?  The  Commission,  after  careful  deliberation,  fixes 
the  number  as  approximately.  Five  Thousand.  This  includes  those 
who  do  nothing  else  for  a livelihood.  The  clandestine  and  casual 
groups  made  up  of  immoral  girls  and  women,  married  and  other- 
wise, it  makes  no  attempt  to  estimate  as  there  are  no  definite  figures 
upon  which  to  base  an  assumption.  In  the  instance  of  professionals 
figures  were  obtainable.  The  police  lists,  supplemented  with  the  lists 
furnished  by  the  Commission  investigators,  give  a total  of  Three 


^See  Chapter  III,  “ Social  Evil  and  the  Police.” 


34 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Thousand,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-fourT  Eighteen  hundred  is  not 
too  large  a number  to  allow  for  those  omitted  from  the  police  list 
and  not  discovered  by  the  Commission  for  lack  of  time  and  money 
for  a more  thorough  census. 

Assignation  Houses.  The  Commission  feels  that  one  of  the  greatest 
menaces  to  young  people,  and  an  evil  for  which  there  is  absolutely 
no  excuse  and  for  which  there  should  be  no  room  in  Chicago,  is  the 
assignation  hotels  in  the  loop  district  and  on  the  main  streets  lead- 
ing from  the  same  to  the  three  sides  of  the  city.  They  furnish  a 
place  of  ruin  for  young  girls  who  are  living  at  home  as  well  as  for 
those  at  work,  and  enable  men  to  wreck  many  lives  without  fear  of 
danger  to  themselves.  They  are  large  in  number  and  flagrant  and 
bold  in  operation. 

Prostitution  and  the  Saloon.  The  Commission  has  found  in  its  in- 
vestigation that  the  most  dangerous  immoral  influence,  and  the  most 
important  financial  interest,  outside  of  the  business  of  prostitution  as 
carried  on  in  houses,  is  the  disorderly  saloons.  The  proprietors  of 
these  places  are  using  prostitutes  as  an  adjunct  to  the  sale  of  beer  and 
liquor,  and  are  allowing  them  to  openly  solicit  for  immoral  purposes 
in  their  rear  rooms.  This  is  done  in  spite  of  the  constant  statements 
of  the  brewers  and  wholesale  liquor  dealers  that  they  are  against  the 
use  of  prostitutes  in  saloons  which  they  supply.^ 

During  the  period  of  its  investigation  the  Commission  has  secured 
definite  information  regarding  445  saloons  in  different  parts  of  the 
city.  The  investigators  have  counted  929  unescorted  women  in  these 
saloons,  who  by  their  actions  and  conversation  were  believed  to  be 
prostitutes.  In  fact  they  were  solicited  by  more  than  236  women  in 
236  different  saloons,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  98,  solicited 
for  rooms,  “hotels,”  and  houses  of  prostitution  over  the  saloons. 

Another  feature  of  the  saloon  which  is  pernicious,  is  the  vaudeville 
shows  of  lewd  nature  conducted  in  the  rear  rooms.  This  is  so  wide- 
spread in  the  saloons  mentioned  in  the  class  above  that  the  public 
and  police  seem  to  have  taken  the  attitude  that  because  it  exists,  it 
should  be  allowed  to  continue.  Many  young  men,  to  say  nothing  of 
women,  have  been  lured  by  the  entertainment  provided  in  these  re- 
sorts to  acts  which  they  never  contemplated  when  they  entered  the 
saloon  for  drinks  only.  Could  the  general  public  know  the  extent 

^See  Chapter  I,  “ Existing  Conditions.” 

^See  Chapter  II,  “ Social  Evil  and  Saloon.” 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


35 


of  the  saloon’s  degrading  influence  in  so  many  instances  it  would  in- 
sistently demand  an  immediate  and  permanent  change  in  the  situation. 
The  Commission  is  absolutely  convinced  that  there  should  be  a com- 
plete separation  of  the  saloon  and  the  business  of  prostitution,  and 
this  immediately. 

Protection  of  Children.  We  often  forget  that  society  owes  much 
to  the  protection  of  the  children.  Those  of  mature  years  can  be  left 
generally  to  guard  themselves ; but  in  the  case  of  youth  and  ignorance, 
society  must  take  the  part  of  the  elder  brother,  and  in  many  cases, 
the  part  of  the  father  as  an  educator  and  guardian. 

From  its  study  of  existing  conditions  in  Chicago  the  Commission 
feels  that  if  there  is  to  be  any  permanent  gain  in  the  fight  against  the 
Social  Evil  in  this  city,  much  care  and  thought  must  be  given  the 
problem  of  child  protection  and  education.  In  the  Chapter  devoted  to 
this  situation  it  is  shown  that  the  children  in  certain  sections  of  the 
city  are  surrounded  by  many  immoral  influences  and  dangers.  They 
are  compelled  by  reason  of  poverty  to  live  within,  or  in  close  prox- 
imity to,  restricted  prostitute  districts.  Even  in  residential  sections 
children  come  in  contact  with  immoral  persons,  and  gain  an  early 
knowledge  of  things  which  may  influence  their  whole  life  and  guide 
them  in  the  wrong  direction. 

One  of  the  sad  spectacles  in  this  great  city  is  the  night  children 
who  sell  gum,  candy  and  papers  on  the  streets.  These  little  vendors 
become  creatures  of  independent  habits  before  they  reach  the  age  of 
puberty.  Through  habits  learned  by  loitering  near  saloons,  and 
even  in  the  rear  rooms  frequented  by  prostitutes  and  vile  men,  they 
become  familiar  with  the  vulgarity  and  immorality  of  the  street  and 
learn  their  language  and  ways  of  life.  All  of  this  knowledge,  far 
beyond  their  years,  results  in  defiance  on  the  part  of  these  children 
against  parental  will  and  authority.  That  children  should,  be  kept  off 
the  streets  at  night  by  the  police,  and  that  parents  should  be  impressed 
\/ith  the  importance  of  the  most  strict  supervision  of  the  child’s 
recreational  hours,  are  two  matters  of  the  greatest  moment  in  the  pro- 
tection of  the  child. 

The  investigations  by  the  Commission  show  that  messengers  and 
newsboys  have  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  ways  of  the  underworld. 
Their  moral  sense  is  so  blunted  as  to  be  absolutely  blind  to  the  degra- 
dation of  women  and  the  vile  influence  of  vicious  men.  Thus  early  in 


36 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


life  they  become  diseased  both  in  body  and  soul  and  grow  up  to  enter 
upon  a career  of  crime  and  lust. 

Much  good  is  being  accomplished  by  various  philanthropic  organ- 
izations, particularly  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association,  in  calling  the 
public  attention  to  these  grave  dangers,  and  caring  for  children  who 
are  victims  of  such  environments.^ 

The  Commission  heartily  endorses  all  attempts  to  provide  health- 
ful and  carefully  guarded  places  of  recreation  for  the  children.  It 
does  not  sympathize  with  those  who  simply  stand  by  to  criticize  with- 
out doing  anything  in  a constructive  way  to  provide  something  whole- 
some for  that  which  may  demoralize.  Children  must  and  should  have 
amusement  and  recreation,  and  they  will  find  it  in  some  way.  Let 
Chicago  increase  her  small  parks  and  recreation  centers.  Let  the 
churches  give  of  their  facilities  to  provide  amusement  for  children. 
Let  the  Board  of  Education  extend  its  efforts  in  establishing  more 
social  centers  in  the  public  schools.  Let  the  city  provide  clean  dances, 
well  chaperoned — as  they  are  now  in  the  public  schools  Social  Centers. 

Sex  Education.  Many  of  the  immoral  influences  and  dangers  which 
are  constantly  surrounding  young  children  on  the  street,  in  their 
amusements,  and  in  business  life,  may  be  counteracted  and  minimized 
by  proper  moral  teaching  and  scientific  instruction.  Educators  have 
come  to  feel  something  should  be  done  directly  by  teachers  in  schools 
and  elsewhere  to  impart  some  kind  of  instruction  to  counteract  the 
evil  knowledge  which  children  acquire  from  evil  sources. 

The  Commission  believes  that  in  the  case  of  children  beyond  the 
age  of  puberty  sex  hygiene  may  be  taught  in  schools  under  carefully 
trained  and  scientifically  instructed  teachers.  Eor  younger  children 
the  parents  should  do  the  teaching  as  the  part  of  a sacred  duty.  In 
the  case  of  the  father  being  unwilling  to  do  so,  let  the  family  physician 
be  asked  to  teach  the  son.  The  mother,  with  her  maternal  instinct, 
will  find  the  way  and  means  to  warn  the  daughter  of  the  dangers 
which  may  beset  her.  In  colleges  and  universities  sex  hygiene  should 
be  universally  taught.  The  Commission  feels  that  the  teaching  of  sex 
hygiene  in  schools  is  an  important  movement  which,  while  not  yet 
past  the  experimental  stage,  promises  great  advances  in  the  promo- 
tion of  child  protection  for  the  future.  But  it  is  certain  that  knowl- 


^See  Chapter  V,  “Child  Protecton  and  Education.” 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


37 


edge  of  sex  hygiene  alone  can  never  be  successful  in  saving  the  child 
until  it  is  based  upon  religious  conviction  and  sound  moral  training. 

The  lack  of  home  instruction  in  the  use  and  abuse  of  sex  organs 
and  relationship  leads  many  children  to  a knowledge  gained  in  sad 
ways  with  unhappy  results.  Fortunate,  indeed,  is  the  boy  or  girl,  who 
has  a father  or  mother  as  a confidant  with  whom  there  may  be  free 
conversation  concerning  the  natural  functions  of  the  body — a conver- 
sation raised  almost  to  a point  of  spirituality  because  of  the  parent’s 
pure  love  for  the  child,  and  the  child’s  unfaltering  trust  in  the  parent. 
If  more  fathers  and  mothers  could  be  companions  ^and  comrades  with 
their  children  there  would  be  far  less  need  of  Commissions  of  this 
kind  to  solve  perplexing  problems  for  the  parents. 

We  record  our  conviction  that  while  intelligence  regarding  sexual 
matters,  if  dictated  by  moral  sentiment,  is  a safeguard  to  the  youth 
of  the  community,  yet  the  indiscriminate  circulation  of  sexual  informa- 
tion among  children  by  means  of  books  and  pamphlets  suggests  a 
danger  which  ought  not  to  escape  attention.  These  publications  are 
of  two  sorts.  The  first  includes  the  vicious  prints  which  even  assume 
the  guise  of  helpful  instruction  to  accomplish  their  purpose.  The 
second  comprises  those  works  on  sexual  science  which,  with  the 
best  intent,  are  prepared  for  the  use  of  children.  We  are  firmly  of 
the  opinion  that  such  material  should  be  used  by  parents  and  other 
instructors  of  the  children  in  securing  information  which  they  may 
impart  to  those  in  their  care,  rather  than  by  the  children  themselves  in 
whose  hands  it  is  liable  to  awaken  morbid  curiosity  and  to  result  in 
harm. 

WT  recommend  the  careful  examination  of  all  material  of  this  na- 
ture offered  to  children  for  purchase  and  the  suppression  of  such 
evidently  vicious  in  intent.  Publishers  and  booksellers  of  the  objec- 
tionable material  should  not  be  allowed  to  sell  to  children. 

The  Situation  in  Colored  Communities.  The  history  of  the  social 
evil  in  Chicago  is  intimately  connected  with  the  colored  population. 
Invariably  the  larger  vice  districts  have  been  created  within  or  near 
the  settlements  of  colored  people.  In  the  past  history  of  the  city, 
nearly  every  time  a new  vice  district  was  created  down  town  or  on 
the  South  Side,  the  colored  families  were  in  the  district,  moving  in 
just  ahead  of  the  prostitutes.  The  situation  along  State  street  from 
16th  street  south  is  an  illustration. 


38 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


So  whenever  prostitutes,  cadets  and  thugs  were  located  among  white 
people  and  had  to  be  moved  for  commercial  or  other  reasons,  they 
were  driven  to  undesirable  parts  of  the  city,  the  so-called  colored  resi- 
dential sections.  A former  Chief  of  Police  gave  out  a semi-official 
statement  to  the  effect  that  so  long  as  this  degenerate  group  of  persons 
confined  their  residence  to  districts  west  of  Wabash  avenue  and  east  of 
Wentworth  avenue  they  would  not  be  apprehended.  This  part  of  the 
city  is  the  largest  residence  section  of  colored  families.  Their  churches, 
Sunday-schools  and  societies,  are  within  these  boundaries.  In  this 
colored  community  there  is  a large  number  of  disorderly  saloons, 
gambling  houses,  assignation  rooms  and  houses  of  ill-fame.  An  in- 
vestigation shows  that  there  are  several  thousand  colored  people  in 
the  First,  Second  and  Third  Wards  where  these  vicious  conditions 
obtain.  Under  these  conditions  in  the  Second  and  Third  Wards  there 
are  1,475  young  colored  boys  and  girls. 

In  addition  to  this  proximity  to  immoral  conditions  young  colored 
girls  are  often  forced  into  idleness  because  of  a prejudice  against 
them,  and  they  are  eventually  forced  to  accept  positions  as  maids  in 
houses  of  prostitution. 

Employment  agents  do  not  hesitate  to  send  colored  girls  as  servants 
to  these  houses.  They  make  the  astounding  statement  that  the  law 
does  not  allow  them  to  send  white  girls  but  they  will  furnish  colored 
help ! 

In  summing  up  it  is  an  appalling  fact  that  practically  all  of  the 
male  and  female  servants  connected  with  houses  of  prostitution  in  vice 
districts  and  in  disorderly  flats  in  residential  sections  are  colored.  The 
majority  of  entertainers  in  disorderly  saloons  on  the  South  Side  are 
colored  men  who  live  with,  and  in  part  upon,  the  proceeds  of  white 
women. 

The  apparent  discrimination  against  the  colored  citizens  of  the  city 
in  permitting  vice  to  be  set  down  in  their  very  midst  is  unjust,  and 
abhorrent  to  all  fair  minded  people.  Colored  children  should  receive 
the  same  moral  protection  that  white  children  receive. 

The  prejudice  against  colored  girls  who  are  ambitious  to  earn  an 
honest  living  is  unjust.  Such  an  attitude  eventually  drives  them  into 
immoral  surroundings.  They  need  special  care  and  protection  on  the 
maxim  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  strong  to  help  the  weak.  Any  effort 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY  39 

therefore,  to  improve  conditions  in  Chicago  should  provide  more 
wholesome  surroundings  for  the  families  of  its  colored  citizens  who 
now  live  in  communities  of  colored  people. 

Perversion.  At  the  very  outset  of  the  Commission’s  investigation 
its  attention  was  called  by  several  persons  to  the  practice  of  sexual 
perversion  which  was  said  to  be  very  prevalent  and  growing  in  Chi- 
cago. The  investigation  of  the  Commission  bears  out  this  assertion. 

It  must  be  understood  that  the  perpetrators  'of  these  various  forms 
of  sexual  perversion  can  be  regarded  as  those  who  may  be  punished 
under  the  law  relating  to  infamous  crimes.  The  result  of  the  investi- 
gation of  this  evil  has  been  incorporated  in  the  chapter  on  “The  Social 
Evil  and  Its  Medical  Aspects.”^ 

Sources  of  Supply.  The  investigation  of  the  Commission  on  the 
sources  of  supply  has  resulted  in  a large  amount  of  illuminating  data, 
sad  and  pitiful  in  its  details.  This  information  has  been  supplemented 
by  the  results  of  other  investigations  undertaken  by  various  protective 
organizations,  including  the  Juvenile  Court,  which  has  been  compiled 
by  the  Commission.  The  chapter  on  “Sources  of  Supply”  is  one  of 
the  most  important  in  this  report  and  it  is  suggested  that  it  be  read 
in  full.  On  account  of  its  length,  it  is  difficult  to  make  a summary; 
some  prominent  features  may  be  noted,  however,  as  bearing  upon 
the  general  problem. 

Wherever  there  is  a demand,  artificial  or  otherwise,  there  must  be 
a supply.  In  another  part  of  this  report  the  conservative  estimate 
is  made  that  there  are  at  least  five  thousand  professional  prostitutes 
in  Chicago.  Medical  men  affirm  that  the  average  life  of  these  un- 
fortunate women  for  service  is  from  five  to  seven  years.  Thus  it 
follows  that  fresh  young  girls  must  be  continually  supplied  to  take 
the  place  of  those  who  die  or  are  rendered  useless  by  disease.  Where 
do  these  new  victims  come  from?  Is  the  demand  supplied? 

From  the  mass  of  evidence  we  learn  that  the  path  which  leads  down 
to  disease  and  death  is  constantly  filled  with  young  recruits  who  go 
stumbling  on,  blinded  by  the  want  of  necessities  of  life,  by  a desire 
for  some  simple  luxuries,  by  ignorance,  by  vain  hopes,  by  broken 
promises,  by  the  deceit  and  lust  of  men. 

The  Immigrant.  The  immigrant  woman  furnishes  a large  supply 


iSee  Chapter  VII,  page  295. 


40 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


to  the  demand.  Generally  virtuous  w^hen  she  comes  to  this  country, 
she  is  ruined  and  exploited  because  there  is  no  adequate  protection 
and  assistance  given  her  after  she  reaches  the  United  States.  That 
some  prostitutes  come  from  foreign  countries  is  of  course  true,  but 
the  Federal  Government,  especially  through  its  officials  in  Chicago, 
has  done  considerable  to  stop  this  importation.  The  White  Slave  Act, 
recently  passed  by  Congress,  has  been  most  effective  in  minimizing  the 
traffic  in  foreign  women.  Much  needs  to  be  done,  however,  to  protect 
the  innocent  immigrant  who  is  betrayed  and  led  into  an  immoral  life 
after  landing  in  New  York  or  elsewhere.  The  care  of  immigrant 
women,  upon  their  arrival  in  Chicago,  needs  supervision.  Immigrant 
girls  should  not  be  left  to  private  expressmen  and  cab  drivers,  to  be 
lost  to  their  relatives  and  friends  in  the  city,  because  of  incorrect 
addresses  or  the  carelessness  or  vicious  intent  of  the  drivers. 

Bad  Home  Conditions.  The  subject  under  consideration  should 
bring  forward  most  prominently,  too,  the  fact  that  the  supply  comes 
largely  from  bad  home  conditions  and  lack  of  recreational  privileges. 
In  a large  number  of  cases  investigated,  the  home  conditions  have  con- 
tributed to,  if  not  caused,  the  downfall  of  many  a wife  and  daughter. 
As  will  be  seen  in  the  chapter  on  “Sources  of  Supply,”  ^ the  perversion 
of  the  natural  sex  relationships  by  immorality  of  the  guardian,  by  the 
evil  example  of  a brother,  sister,  or  other  relative,  and  by  the  abuse 
of  the  marriage  relation  is  the  specific  source  of  the  ruin  of  many 
lives. 

Statements  are  often  made  and,  in  some  instances  warranted  by 
facts,  that  the  excessive  demands  upon  the  mother  because  of  a large 
family  of  children,  without  sufficient  income  or  help  to  care  for  them, 
is  also  the  occasion  for  many  neglected  children  going  astray.  The 
statement  is  also  made  and  supported  by  facts,  learned  from  long  and 
faithful  experience  in  caring  for  dependent  and  delinquent  children, 
that  more  delinquent  girls  come  from  small  families  where  they  are 
spoiled,  than  from  large  families  where  there  may  be  poverty,  but  a 
sort  of  unconscious  protective  union  of  the  children  shielding  one 
another. 

White  Slave  Traffic.  The  subject  of  the  so-called  White  Slave 
Traffic  has  attracted  much  attention  throughout  this  and  foreign 
countries.  The  term  “white  slave,”  is  a misnomer.  As  a matter  of 
fact  the  traffic  is  not  confined  to  white  girls,  but  to  all  unfortunate 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply.” 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


41 


girls  and  women  of  all  colors,,  races  and  nationalities.  The  use  of  this 
term,  however,  is  authorized  by  the  National  Government  and  was 
incorporated  in  the  international  law  on  the  subject.  A “white  slaver” 
in  reality  is  a man  who  employs  men  or  women  or  goes  out  himself 
to  secure  girls  upon  some  false  pretense,  or  misrepresentation,  or  when 
the  girl,  intoxicated  or  drugged,  and  not  in  possession  of  her  senses,  is 
conveyed  to  any  place  for  immoral  purposes. 

If  the  girl  is  wayward  and  goes  of  her  own  free  will  she  would 
not  be  a white  slave  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word;  nor  the  man  or 
woman  who  induced  her  to  go  or  accompanied  her  to  an  immoral 
place  a “white  slaver.”  However,  any  man  or  woman  who  induces 
or  accompanies  any  woman  to  enter  an  immoral  place  is  guilty  under 
the  Illinois  Pandering  Act. 

It  has  been  demonstrated  that  men  and  women  engaged  in  the 
“white  slave  traffic”  are  not  organized.  Their  operations,  however, 
are  so  similar  and  they  use  the  same  methods  to  such  an  extent  that  it 
is  safe  to  infer  that  they  are  in  some  way  working  together. 

Divorce.  The  Vice  Commission,  after  exhaustive  consideration  of 
the  vice  question,  records  itself  of  the  opinion  that  divorce  to  a large 
extent  is  a contributory  factor  to  sexual  vice.  No  study  of  this  blight 
upon  the  social  and  moral  life  of  the  country  would  be  comprehensive 
without  consideration  of  the  causes  which  lead  to  the  application  for 
divorce.  These  are  too  numerous  to  mention  at  length  in  such  a report 
as  this,  but  the  Commission  does  wish  to  emphasize  the  great  need 
of  more  safeguards  against  the  marrying  of  persons  physically,  men- 
tally and  morally  unfit  to  take  up  the  responsibilities  of  family  life, 
including  the  bearing  of  children. 

Selection  Guarded.  An  application  for  a license  of  any  kind, 
whether  it  to  be  to  construct  a house,  run  a push  cart,  peddle  shoe 
strings,  or  keep  a dog,  must  be  accompanied  with  evidences  that  the 
applicants  are  responsible  and  reliable  agents.  But  for  a marriage  li- 
cense, one  person,  unattended  and  unknown  and,  as  far  as  one  can 
know,  an  epileptic,  a degenerate,  or  who  has  in  his  blood  a loathsome 
venereal  disease,  may  pass  his  name  through  a window  with  that  of  a 
similarly  questionable  female,  likewise  unknown,  and  be  granted  the 
divine  right  to  perpetuate  his  kind  and  in  turn  thereby  placing  a bur- 
den and  a blight  on  society  and  the  community  for  generations  to  come. 
The  whole  subject  of  selection  in  connection  with  the  institution  of 


42 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


marriage  is  of  vital  importance  in  connection  with  the  social  evil. 
Unwise  selection  produces  innumerable  contributory  agencies  through 
unhappy  marriages,  inherited  degeneracy  and  disease,  and  the  divorce 
evil. 

The  Economic  Side  of  the  Question.  The  life  of  an  unprotected 
girl  who  tries  to  make  a living  in  a great  city  is  full  of  torturing 
temptations.  First,  she  faces  the  problem  of  living  on  an  inadequate 
wage : Six  dollars  a week  is  the  average  in  mercantile  establish- 
ments. If  she  were  living  at  home  where  the  mother  and  sister  could 
help  her  with  mending,  sewing  and  washing,  where  her  board  would 
be  small — perhaps  only  a dollar  or  two  towards  the  burden  carried 
by  the  other  members  of  the  family — where  her  lunch  would  come 
from  the  family  larder — then  her  condition  might  be  as  good  as  if  she 
earned  eight  dollars  per  week. 

The  girl  who  has  no  home  soon  learns  of  “city  poverty”  all  the  more 
cruel  to  her  because  of  the  artificial  contrasts.  She  quickly  learns 
of  the  possibilities  about  her,  of  the  joys  of  comfort,  good  food,  enter- 
tainment, attractive  clothes.  Poverty  becomes  a menace  and  a snare. 
One  who  has  not  beheld  the  struggle  or  come  in  personal  contact 
with  the  tempted  soul  of  the  underpaid  girl  can  never  realize  what  the 
poverty  of  the  city  means  to  her.  One  who  has  never  seen  her  bravely 
fighting  against  such  fearful  odds  will  never  understand.  A day’s  sick- 
ness or  a week  out  of  work  are  tragedies  in  her  life.  They  mean  trips 
to  the  pawn  brokers,  meagre  dinners,  a weakened  will,  often  a plunge 
into  the  abyss  from  which  she  so  often  never  escapes. 

Hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  of  girls  from  country  towns,  and  those 
born  in  the  city  but  who  have  been  thrown  on  their  own  resources, 
are  compelled  to  live  in  cheap  boarding  or  rooming  houses  on  the 
average  wage  of  six  dollars.  How  do  they  exist  on  this  sum?  It  is 
impossible  to  figure  it  out  on  a mathematical  basis.  If  the  wage 
were  eight  dollars  per  week,  and  the  girl  paid  two  and  a half  dollars 
for  her  room,  one  dollar  for  laundry,  and  sixty  cents  for  car  fare,  she 
would  have  less  than  fifty  cents  left  at  the  end  of  the  week.  That  is 
provided  she  ate  ten  cent  breakfasts,  fifteen  cent  luncheons  and 
twenty-five  cent  dinners.  But  there  is  no  doubt  that  many  girls  do  live 
on  even  six  dollars  and  do  it  honestly,  but  we  can  affirm  that  they  do 
not  have  nourishing -food,  or  comfortable  shelter,  or  warm  clothes,  or 
any  amusement,  except  perhaps  free  public  dances,  without  outside 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


43 


help,  either  from  charity  in  the  shape  of  girls’  clubs,  or  friends  in  the 
country  home.  How  can  she  possibly  exist  to  say  nothing  of  live? 

Is  it  any  wonder  that  a tempted  girl  who  receives  only  six  dollars 
per  week  working  with  her  hands  sells  her  body  for  twenty-five  dol- 
lars per  week  when  she  learns  there  is  a demand  for  it  and  men  are 
willing  to  pay  the  price.  On  the  one  hand  her  employer  demands 
honesty,  faithfulness  and  a “clean  and  neat  appearance,”  and  for  all 
this  he  contributes  from  his  profits  an  average  of  six  dollars  for  every 
week.  Her  honesty  alone  is  worth  this  inadequate  wage  disregarding 
the  consideration  of  her  efficiency.  In  the  sad  life  of  prostitution,  on 
the  other  hand,  we  find  here  the  employer  demanding  the  surrender 
of  her  virtue,  pays  her  an  average  of  twenty-five  dollars  per  week. 
Which  employer  wins  the  half  starved  child  to  his  side  in  this  unequal 
battle?  It  would  be  unjust,  however,  to  cast  any  reflection  upon  those 
girls  who  are  brave  and  pure,  by  intimating  that  because  they  earn 
so  small  a wage  they  must  necessarily  be  in  the  same  class  with  those 
other  girls  who,  unable  to  survive  longer  the  heroic  battle  against 
poverty  and  self-sacrifice,  have  succumbed  and  gone  down. 

Prostitution  demands  youth  for  its  perpetration.  On  the  public 
rests  the  mighty  responsibility  of  seeing  to  it  that  the  demand  is  not 
supplied  through  the  breaking  down  of  the  early  education  of  the 
young  girl  or  her  exploitation  in  the  business  world?  What  show 
has  she  in  the  competitive  system  which  exists  today?  Whatever  her 
chances  may  be,  to  stand  or  to  fall,  she  is  here  in  hordes  in  the  business 
world  as  our  problem.  Let  us  do  something  to  give  her  at  least  a 
living  wage.  If  she  is  not  sufficiently  skilled  to  earn  it  let  us  mix 
some  religious  justice  with  our  business  and  do  something  to  in- 
crease her  efficiency  which  she  has  never  been  able  to  develop  through 
no  fault  of  her  own. 

Are  flesh  and  blood  so  cheap,  mental  qualifications  so  common  and 
honesty  of  so  little  value,  that  the  manager  of  one  of  our  big  de- 
partment stores  feels  justified  in  paying  a high  school  girl,  who  has 
served  nearly  one  year  as  an  inspector  of  sales,  the  beggarly  wage 
of  $4.00  per  week?  What  is  the  natural  result  of  such  an  industrial 
condition?  Dishonesty  and  immorality,  not  from  choice,  but  neces- 
sity— in  order  to  live.  We  can  forgive  the  human  frailty  which  yields 
to  temptation  under  such  conditions — but  we  cannot  forgive  the  soul- 


44 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


less  corporation,  which  arrests  and  prosecutes  this  girl — a first  of- 
fender— when  she  takes  some  little  articles  for  personal  adornment. 

The  Man’s  Part.  The  end  of  the  battle  is  not  yet  for  those  girls 
who  struggle  on  alone  and  unprotected  with  their  more  pressing 
financial  problems.  The  greatest  menace  is  before  her — the  IMan. 
See  her  as  he  meets  her  at  the  door  of  her  place  of  employment ! See 
her  as  she  returns  to  her  cheap  boarding  house  ! Huddled  aw'ay  among 
coarse  and  vulgar  male  companions,  lonely,  underfed  and  hungry — 
hungry  not  only  for  food,  but  for  a decent  shelter,  for  a home,  for 
friends,  for  a sympathetic  touch  or  word;  tired  from  a hard  day’s 
toil  even  to  the  point  of  recklessness — starving  for  honest  pleasures 
and  amusements — and  with  what  does  she  meet?  The  advances  of 
men  without  either  a spark  of  bravery  or  honor,  who  hunt  as  their 
unlawful  prey  this  impoverished  girl,  this  defenseless  child  of  pov- 
erty, unprotected,  unloved  and  uncared  for  as  she  is  plunged  into  the 
swirling,  seething  stream  of  humanity;  the  advances  of  men  who  are 
so  low  that  they  have  lost  even  a sense  of  sportsmanship,  and  who 
seek  as  their  game  an  underfed,  a tired,  and  a lonely  girl. 

She  suffers,  but  what  of  him?  She  goes  down,  and  is  finally  sacri- 
ficed to  a life  of  shame,  but  what  of  him?  He  escapes  as  a “roman- 
cer.” It  is  not  just ! 

Rescue  and  Reform.  One  of  the  most  important  tasks  undertaken 
by  the  Commission  was  that  of  reporting  on  the  subject  of  the  rescue 
and  reform  of  immoral  girls  and  women.  This  problem  presents  many 
interesting  phases,  and  can  only  be  solved  by  wise  methods  and  with 
the  help  of  good  men  and  women.  Too  often  this  help  is  withheld 
by  the  very  ones  who  should  extend  it.  The  feeling  against  these 
unfortunate  women  is  still  very  strong  in  these  days,  and  it  is  seldom 
that  persons  can  be  found  who  will  furnish  a wholesome  Christian 
home  environment  which  is  so  much  needed  in  any  plan  to  touch  the 
lives  so  troubled  and  degraded.  Outside  of  this  ver}-  effective  method 
of  reaching  this  class  of  women  there  has  not  been  any  scheme  sug- 
gested for  their  reformation.  One  of  the  chief  reasons  for  this,  no 
doubt,  is  that  no  system  of  reformation  substitutes  anything  for  the 
abnormal  impulses  to  which  these  women  are  subjected.  Some  life 
must  be  devised  whereby  the  abnormality  of  their  existence  can  be 
controlled.  Unless  this  is  done  it  would  seem  that  the  reformation 
of  the  professional  prostitute  is  almost  hopeless. 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


45 


Causes  Which  Lead  to  Downfall.  Any  plan  of  reformation  must 
take  into  consideration  the  causes  which  lead  to  the  downfall  of  these 
unfortunates.*  After  an  exhaustive  study  of  the  whole  field  the  Com- 
mission feels  that  among  the  causes  which  influence  girls  and  women 
to  enter  upon  a life  of  semi-professional  and  professional  prostitution 
are  the  following:  First,  lack  of  ethical  teaching  and  religious  in- 
struction; second,  the  economic  stress  of  industrial  life  on  unskilled 
workers,  with  the  enfeebling  influences  on  the  will  power;  third,  the 
large  number  of  seasonal  trades  in  which  women  are  especially  en- 
gaged ; fourth,  abnormality ; fifth,  unhappy  home  conditions ; sixth, 
careless  and  ignorant  parents ; seventh,  broken  promises ; eighth,  love 
of  ease  and  luxury;  ninth,  the  craving  for  excitement  and  change; 
tenth,  ignorance  of  hygiene. 

Once  plunged  into  this  life  through  these  or  any  other  causes  the 
prostitute  sinks  lower  and  lower.  She  finds  herself  a part  of  a cruel 
commercialized  business.  She  is  driven  to  excessive  indulgence  in  all 
kinds  of  vice,  besides  the  one  particular  vice  so  abhorrent,  in  order 
to  bring  extra  profits  to  her  keeper,  and  to  the  men  who  profit  off 
her  sin  and  shame.  These  attendant  vices,  such  as  drink  and  the  use 
of  drugs,  coupled  with  the  demands  upon  her  nervous  system  in  per- 
forming the  services  demanded  of  her,  soon  render  her  the  most  pitiful 
of  all  beings.  As  one  physician  who  has  had  a large  practice  in  venereal 
disease  wards  put  it,  “The  life  is  against  biology  as  well  as  sociology, 
they  are  in  most  cases  gone  physically,  gone  nervously,  gone  socially.” 

How  Can  Unfortunate  Women  Be  Rescued f How  can  these  un- 
fortunate women  be  helped  and  saved  to  society?  Some  well  meaning 
persons  declare  that  they  should  be  left  to  their  fate;  that  they  are 
criminals,  and  should  be  treated  as  such.  The  Commission  does  not 
feel  that  this  is  an  answer  to  the  problem.  They  are  human  beings 
still,  for  a time  stumbling  in  the  depths  of  sin  and  shame,  but  not- 
withstanding how  low  they  have  sunken  in  the  social  scale  they  can  be 
rescued,  if  by  some  method  they  can  be  made  to  feel  the  touch  of 
divine  sympathy  and  human  love. 

No  doubt,  during  the  coming  months  many  of  these  women,  now  in 
houses,  and  on  the  streets,  and  in  the  saloons,  will  be  cut  loose  from 
their  surroundings  by  the  effective  operation  of  the  law.  Some  wise 
provision  must  be  made  to  help  them.  To  put  them  in  prison  with  no 
provisions  for  their  spiritual  or  physical  needs  would  only  tend  to 


46 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


degrade  them  still  lower  and  send  them  back  to  a life  of  shame  in  some 
other  community  in  a worse  condition  than  they  were  before. 

Abolish  Fining  System.  Two  very  practical  things  can  be  done. 
The  first  is  to  abolish  the  fining  system  now  in  vogne  against  the  semi- 
professional  and  professional  prostitutes.  This  system  leads  to  many 
abuses  and  is  in  no  way  reformatory.  If  the  girl  does  not  have  the 
money  to  pay  her  fine  or  secure  bail,  she  must  borrow,  often  from 
men,  and  this  generally  adds  a link  in  the  chain  which  binds  her  to  an 
immoral  life.  If  she  has  money  the  fine  or  the  cost  of  the  bail  bond 
will  probably  make  her  penniless.  In  either  case  she  must  return  to 
the  street,  the  house  or  the  saloon,  and  plunge  into  reckless  excesses 
in  order  to  earn  the  money.  First  offenders,  especially,  instead  of 
being  fined  or  imprisoned  should  be  placed  on  probation  under  the 
care  of  intelligent  and  sympathetic  women  officially  connected  with 
the  court.  These  women  can  not  only  watch  over  these  unfortunate 
girls  and  advise  with  them,  but  can  secure  employment  for  them  or 
return  them  to  their  homes.  This  adult  probation  system  has  proved 
to  be  most  successful  in  other  cities  in  reaching  this  class  of  cases. 
The  following  is  suggested  in  the  form  of  relief : 

Industrial  Homes.  Old  and  hardened  offenders,  weakened  by  dis- 
ease, their  wills  sapped  and  gone  by  drugs  and  the  artificial  excite- 
ment of  their  degraded  lives,  should  be  sent  to  an  industrial  farm 
with  hospital  accommodations  on  an  indeterminate  sentence.  Ob- 
viously it  is  necessary  that  some  such  measures  of  almost  drastic  con- 
trol should  obtain,  if  such  women  are  to  be  permanently  helped  and 
society  served.  Such  women  are  described  by  one  writer  as : “ These 
dubious  divinities  of  the  gas  light  and  the  pavement  represent  the 
eternal  sacrifice  of  woman,  the  tragedy  of  her  abasement,  her  obedi- 
ence to  the  world.” 

To  Men — A Closing  Word.  In  closing  this  introduction  the  Com- 
mission desires  to  say  one  more  word  to  those  who  support  this  busi- 
ness of  women’s  souls,  whether  as  barterers  of  the  body,  or  those  who 
demand  the  service — the  Man.  There  is  only  one  moral  law — it  is  alike 
for  men  and  women.  Again,  there  is  a contract  called  matrimony 
which  is  a solemn  contract  made  between  those  who  love.  It  carries 
with  it  the  elements  of  vested  rights — even  a solemn  promise  before 
God.  A signature  represents  honor — it  is  there — likewise  a promise — 
it  is  there.  Has  this  contract  been  kept  inviolate ? If  not,  why  not? 


INTRODUCTION  AND  SUMMARY 


47 


To  one  who  hears  the  ghastly  life  story  of  fallen  women  it  is  ever 
the  same — the  story  of  treachery,  seduction  and  downfall — the  flagrant 
act  of  man — the  ruin  of  a soul  by  man. 

It  is  a man  and  not  a woman  problem  which  we  face  today — 
commercialized  by  man — supported  by  man — the  supply  of  fresh  vic- 
tims furnished  by  men — men  who  have  lost  that  fine  instinct  of  chivalry 
and  that  splendid  honor  for  womanhood  where  the  destruction  of  a 
woman’s  soul  is  abhorrent,  and  where  the  defense  of  a woman’s  purity 
is  truly  the  occasion  for  a valiant  fight. 


Proposed  Ordinance 


PROPOSED  ORDINANCE, 


The  Vice  Commission  presents  the  following  ordinance  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Mayor  and  City  Council  of  Chicago: 

« 

Be  it  Ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  Chicago: 

Section  1.  That  there  shall  be  and  hereby  is  created  in  and  for 
the  City  of  Chicago,  a commission  to  be  known  as  the  “Morals  Com- 
mission of  the  City  of  Chicago,”  the  members  of  which  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Mayor  with  the  approval  of  the  City  Council,  and 
which  commission  shall  consist  of  five  (5)  persons  who  shall  be  quali- 
fied electors  of  said  city  and  each  of  whom  shall  have  resided  therein 
at  least  one  year  preceding  his  appointment.  The  Commissioner  of 
Health  of  the  City  of  Chicago  shall  be  ex-officio  one  of  the  members 
of  said  commission.  A second  member  of  said  commission  shall  be  a 
physician  in  good  standing. 

Section  2.  The  members  of  said  commission  shall  take  the  oath 
of  office  and  file  the  bond  provided  by  law  for  officers  of  said  city: 
Provided  that  no  additional  bond  shall  be  required  of  the  member 
of  said  commission  who  shall  be  the  Commissioner  of  Health  of  said 
city.  Such  bond  shall  be  in  the  penal  sum  of  One  Thousand  Dollars 
($1,000),  and  shall  be  conditioned  according  to  law. 

Section  3.  The  term  of  office  of  the  Commissioner  of  Health  as 
ex-officio  member  of  said  commission,  shall  be  during  the  time  that 
he  shall  be  Commissioner  of  Health  of  the  City  of  Chicago.  The 
term  of  office  of  the  other  members  of  said  commission  shall  be  two 
(2)  years  and  until  their  successors  shall  be  appointed  and  qualified. 
The  Commissioner  of  Health  of  the  City  of  Chicago  shall  not  receive 
any  additional  compensation  as  a member  of  said  commission.  The 
other  members  of  said  commission  shall  serve  without  compensation. 
It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Commissioner  of  Public  Works  of  the  City 
of  Chicago  to  furnish  to  said  commission  suitable  quarters  without 
charge. 

Section  4.  Said  commission  shall  have  power  to  appoint  a chief 
clerk  and  assistant  clerk,  one  attorney  and  assistant  attorney,  one 
medical  inspector  and  assistant  medical  inspectors,  and  such  other  help 
as  may  be  necessary.  The  compensation  of  all  such  officers  and  help 
and  other  expenses  of  said  commission  shall  be  such  as  may  from 
time  to  time  be  fixed  by  the  City  Council. 

Section  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  commission  to  take  all 


51 


52 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


legal  and  necessary  steps  towards  the  efifectual  suppression  of  bawdy 
and  disorderly  houses,  houses  of  ill-fame  or  assignation  within  the 
limits  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  and  within  three  (3)  miles  of  the  outer 
boundaries  of  the  city;  to  collect  evidence  of  the  violation  of  any  state 
laws  and  city  ordinances  concerning  any  of  such  houses,  and  the  keep- 
ers, inmates  and  patrons  of  the  same ; and  to  institute  and  carry  on 
prosecutions  in  the  name  of  the  City  of  Chicago  against  any  of  said 
houses,  said  keepers,  inmates  and  patrons. 

Section  6.  Said  commission  shall  have  power  and  authority  to 
make  rules  and  regulations  for  the  conduct  of  the  business  of  said 
commission  and  otherwise  not  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of 
this  ordinance. 


Recommendations 


RECOMMENDATIONS. 


The  Vice  Commission  presents  the  following  recom.mendations  for 
the  consideration  of  the  Federal,  State,  County  and  City  authorities, 
public  officials  and  various  organizations : 

RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  FEDERAL  AUTHORITIES. 

I.  A Federal  Bureau  of  Immigration' should  be  established  in  great 
distributive  centers,  such  as  Chicago,  to  provide  for  the  safe  conduct 
of  immigrants  from  ports  of  entry  to  their  destination.  Efficient 
legislation  should  be  enacted  and  present  laws  enforced  in  such  a man- 
ner as  to  deal  with  the  traffic  in  women  within  the  boundaries  of  each 
State  as  thoroughly  as  the  Federal  authorities  have  dealt  with  the  inter- 
national traffic. 

II.  The  law  regarding  the  use  of  boats  for  prostitution  purposes 
should  be  enforced. 

III.  The  owners  of  lake  steamers  should  exercise  more  vigilance  in 
enforcing  their  rules. 

IV.  There  should  be  more  officers  with  police  powers  on  board 
lake  steamers. 

V.  The  sale  of  intoxicating  liquor  to  minors  should  be  absolutely 
prohibited  on  lake  steamers. 

VI.  All  gambling  devices  should  be  suppressed  on  lake  steamers. 

VII.  The  Commission  condemns  the  ease  with  which  divorces 
may  be  obtained  in  certain  States,  and  recommends  a stringent,  uni- 
form divorce  law  for  all  States. 


55 


56 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  STATE  AUTHORITIES 

I.  We  recommend  that  the  State  authorities,  the  Chicago  Medical 
Society,  or  the  Morals  Commission  investigate  and  report  on  mid- 
wives, advertised  maternity  hospitals,  medical  advertisements,  adver- 
tising doctors  and  regular  physicians  who  are  suspected  of  being  or 
known  to  be  abortionists. 

• II.  Physicians  who  advertise  treatment  and  cure  of  venereal  dis- 
eases should  come  under  the  provisions  of  Section  12,  Chapter  91, 
of  the  Illinois  Revised  Statutes,  providing  for  the  licensing  of  itinerant 
physicians. 

III.  We  recommend  that  the  State  authorities  or  the  Morals  Com- 
mission conduct  an  investigation  of  employment  agencies. 

IV.  The  advertisements  of  employment  agents  who  advertise  in 
Chicago  papers  published  in  foreign  languages  should  be  carefully 
watched  and  the  advertisers  investigated. 

V.  Publishers  should  be  warned  against  inserting  the  advertise- 
ments of  suspicious  employment  agencies. 

VI.  Employment  agents  should  be  carefully  instructed  regarding 
the  law  applicable  to  them. 

VII.  We  recommend  the  enactment  of  a new  Illinois  law  providing 
that  medical  certificates  must  be  secured  showing  bearer  is  free  from 
syphilis,  gonorrhoea  and  other  venereal  diseases  before  a marriage 
license  can  be  issued.^ 

VIII.  The  law  regarding  infamous  crimes  should  be  altered  and 
made  specific  under  the  guidance  of  scientific  men  who  understand 
these  practices  so  as  to  make  it  clearly  .understood  that  society  regards 
these  abhorrent  deeds  as  crimes. 

IX.  We  recommend  the  passage  of  an  amendment  to  the  present 
child  labor  law  to  the  effect  that  no  person  under  the.  age  of  twenty- 
one  shall  be  employed  in  the  night  messenger  service. 

X.  We  recommend  the  enactment  of  Stale  laws  and  City  ordi- 
nances whereby  a house  of  prostitution  may  be  declared  a public 
nuisance,  and  containing  provisions  expressly  giving  to  any  citizen 


^See  Exhibit  N. 


RECOMMENDATIONS 


57 


the  right  to  institute  simple  and  summary  proceedings  in  equity  for  the 
abatement  of  the  nuisance. 

XL  We  recommend  the  repeal  of  the  law  of  1874,  as  to  houses 
of  ill-fame  or  prostitution  (Chapter  24  Revised  Statutes,  Part  1,  Arti- 
cle 5,  Section  1,  paragraph  45)  in  so  far  as  such  limits  the  powers 
of  the  Department  of  Health ; and  most  strongly  recommend  the  enact- 
ment of  such  legislation  as  will  empower  the  Commissioner  of  Health, 
after  due  investigation,  to  declare  any  such  house  a place  of  con- 
tagious disease — and  to  order  same  closed  and  abandoned. 

XH.  There  should  be  a relentless  prosecution  and  punishment  of 
professional  procurers. 

XHI.  There  should  be  constant  prosecution  of  all  keepers  and  in- 
mates of  existing  houses  of  prostitution,  as  well  as  owners  of  the  prop- 
erty rented  or  leased  for  immoral  purposes. 

XIV.  There  should  be  a more  strict  supervision  in  licensing  and 
inspecting  the  practice  of  midwives  and  physicians  and  prosecution 
of  druggists  wjio  sell  drugs  and  certain  appliances  illegally. 

XV.  An  identification  system  for  prostitutes  should  be  established 
in  the  State  Courts. 

XVI.  In  dealing  with  prostitutes  in  the  courts,  fines  should  be 
abolished  and  imprisonuient  or  an  adult  probation  system  substituted. 

XVII.  A law  should  be  enacted  providing  a penalty  against  any 
person  who  knowingly  places  or  permits  to  remain  in  a disorderly 
house  or  in  an  unlicensed  saloon,  inn,  tavern  or  other  unlicensed  place 
where  malt  or  spirituous  liquors  or  wine  are  sold,  any  instrument  or 
device  by  which  communication  can  be  had  between  such  disorderly 
house,  saloon,  inn,  tavern,  or  unlicensed  place,  and  any  office  or  place 
of  business  or  habitation  of  a corporation  or  person. 

XVHI.  A law  should  be  enacted  providing  a penalty  against  any 
corporation  or  person  employing  messenger  boys,  or  knowingly  sending 
any  messenger  boy  under  twenty-one  years  of  age  to  any  disorderly 
house,  unlicensed  saloon,  inn,  tavern,  or  other  unlicensed  place  where 
malt  or  spirituous  liquors  or  wines  are  sold,  on  any  errand  or  business 
whatsoever. 

XIX.  We  recommend  that  immediate  legislation  be  sought  to  es- 


58 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


tablish  a second  school  for  wayward  girls  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  said 
institution  to  be  established  in  some  other  part  of  the  State,  rather 
than  to  extend  the  institution  at  Geneva.  The  latter  institution  is 
overcrowded  and  the  numbers  there  are  all  that  can  be  governed  satis- 
factorily by  one  superintendent. 

XX.  We  recommend  legislation  providing  for  the  organization  of 
a sympathetic  agency  with  paid  agents  who  have  followed  a special  in- 
struction, and  who  would  be  charged  with  the  regular  supervision  of 
the  children  of  unmarried  mothers. 

XXL  We  also  recommend  that  the  City  or  County  provide  a phy- 
sician with  assistants  who  shall  receive  the  reports  of  agents  and  in- 
quire into  the  state  of  health  of  such  children  and  care  for  those  who 
are  sick. 

XXII.  We  further  recommend  that  this  general  guardianship  and 
regular  supervision  over  all  such  children  of  the  City  be  extended 
until  they  have  passed  through  the  school  age. 

XXIII.  We  recommend  that  Section  8,  Chapter  17,  of  Hurd’s  Re- 
vised Statutes  relating  to  Bastardy  be  amended  by  striking  out  the 
words,  “ He  shall  be  condemned  by  the  order  and  judgment  of  the 
Court  to  pay  a sum  not  exceeding  $1CK)  for  the  first  year  after  the 
birth  of  such  child,  and  a sum  not  exceeding  $50  yearly  for  the  nine 
years  succeeding  said  first  year,  for  the  support,  maintenance  and 
education  of  such  child,”  and  amending  same  so  that  responsibility 
for  the  cai'e  and  support  of  the  child  of  an  unmarried  mother  shall  be 
borne  by  the  father  until  the  child’s  majority. 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  COUNTY  OFFICIALS. 


I.  We  recommend  the  appointment  of  a permanent  Committee  on 
Child  Protection,  with  ample  funds  from  the  County  Treasury. 

H.  All  hospitals  receiving  County  funds  in  whole  or  in  part  should 
be  obliged  to  treat  cases  of  venereal  disease. 


RECOMMENDATIONS 


59 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  CITY  AUTHORITIES. 

I.  We  recommend  that  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago 
enact  an  ordinance  creating  a commission  to  be  known  as  the  “ Morals 
Commission  of  the  City  of  Chicago.”^ 

II.  Enforce  the  laws  and  regulations,  especially  those, 

(a)  Prohibiting  the  harboring  of  prostitutes  and  disorderly 
persons  in  saloons. 

(b)  Prohibiting  wine  rooms  and  stalls  in  saloons. 

(c)  Prohibiting  assignation  rooms,  houses  of  prostitution  and 
“ hotels  ” in  connection  with  saloons. 

(d)  Prohibiting  dances  in  buildings  where  there  is  a saloon. 

III.  To  this  end 

(a)  Maintain  a strict  surveillance  of  the  police. 

(b)  Discharge  policemen  who  are  guilty  of  gross  or  petty 
graft  in  their  relations  with  the  saloons. 

(c)  Make  frequent  rotation  of  policemen. 

(d)  Provide  investigation  of  complaints,  within  twenty-four 
hours  by  picked  men,  taken  from  “ outside  ” districts. 

IV.  By  any  proper  means,  especially  by  publicity,  put  pressure 
(1)  Upon  the  Brewers’  Exchange  and  the  Wholesale  Liquor 
Dealers’  Association  members  doing  business  with  saloons  which 
violate  the  laws  or  regulations  referred  to,  or  who  are,  as  bonds- 
men, responsible  for  such  saloons. 

(2)  Upon  the  Retail  Liquor  Dealers’  Association  to  discipline 
members  who  may  violate  these  laws  or  regulations. 

V.  Licenses  of  saloons  that  violate  these  laws  or  regulations  should 
be  permanently,  not  temporarily,  revoked. 

VI.  The  city  should  provide  public  comfort  stations  in  different 
sections  of  the  city,  especially  in  the  loop  district. 

VII.  Licenses  of  saloons  in  the  near  neighborhood  of  school  houses 
and  other  public  institutions  should  be  revoked. 

VIII.  Give  the  facts  regarding  conditions  in  saloons,  both  general 
and  detailed,  to  the  public. 


^For  copy  of  proposed  ordinance,  see  page  SI. 


60 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


IX.  No  women  without  male  escorts  should  be  permitted  in  sa- 
loons. 

X.  No  professional  or  paid  escorts  for  women  should  be  permitted 
in  any  saloon. 

XI.  No  solicitation  for  drinks  or  for  prostitution  purposes  by  men 
or  women  should  be  permitted  in  any  saloon. 

XII.  No  immoral  or  vulgar  dances  or  entertainment  should  be 
given  in  any  room  connected  with  saloons. 

XIII.  The  ordinances  prohibiting  wine  rooms  should  be  strictly 
enforced  and  any  attempt  to  provide  booths,  screens,  curtains  about 
tables  in  rear  rooms  of  saloons  should  be  immediately  suppressed. 

XIV.  All  connections  leading  to  rooms  over  saloons  from  any  part 
of  saloon  should  be  immediately  and  permanently  closed. 

XV.  The  violation  of  any  of  these  rules  and  regulations  should 
be  sufficient  to  secure  the  permanent  revocation  of  a saloon  license. 

XVI.  We  recommend  that  no  intoxicating  liquor  be  sold  at  any 
public  dance. 

XVII.  We  recommend  that  an  ordinance  be  passed  providing  for 
a license  fee  of  Fifty  Dollars  annually  for  the  privilege  of  operating 
a public  dance  hall  and  also  that  a corresponding  Department  of  In- 
spection be  provided. 1 

XVI.  Prostitutes  who  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  the /opportunity, 
or  who  are  arrested  and  convicted  on  charges,  should  be  sent  to  an 
industrial  home  with  hospital  accommodations.  To  this  end  such  an 
institution  should  be  established. 

XVII.  Semi-delinquent  girls  should  be  segregated  from  delinquents 
and  more  enlightened  methods  of  care  and  education  be  given  them. 
They  should  not  be  associated  with  prostitutes  or  semi-professional 
prostitutes. 

XVIII.  A Municipal  Detention  Home  for  Women  should  be  es- 
tablished, controlled  by  probation  officers. 

XIX.  The  City  Authorities  should  see  to  it  that  immigrants  ar- 
riving at  the  railroad  station  are  protected  and,  if  necessary,  escorted 
to  their  destination  within  the  city. 


iSee  Exhibit  O. 


RECOMMENDATIONS 


61 


XX.  Municipal  dance  halls  should  be  established,  properly  policed 
and  supervised. 

XXL  The  city  ordinances  regarding  moving  picture  shows  should 
be  revised  in  such  a way  as  to  provide  for  the  presentation  of  pictures 
in  well  lighted  halls. 

XXII.  A municipal  lodging  house  should  be  established  for  women. 

XXIII.  Wards  should  be  established  in  the  city  hospitals  for  the 
treatment  of  venereal  diseases. 

XXIV.  All  hospitals  receiving  city  funds  in  part  or  in  whole  should 
be  obliged  to  treat  cases  of  venereal  disease. 

XXV.  We  recommend  that  the  municipality  secure  a farm  on 
which  a trade  school  and  hospital  could  be  established  to  which  pro- 
fessional prostitutes  could  be  committed  on  an  indeterminate  sentence. 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  CORPORATION  COUNSEL. 

I.  The  city  ordinances  relating  to  houses  of  prostitution  should  be 
enforced. 

II.  The  city  ordinances  prohibiting  advertisements  purporting  to 
treat  and  cure  venereal  diseases  should  be  enforced. 

III.  Daily  papers  that  publish  such  advertisements  should  be  pros- 
ecuted. 


62 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  POLICE  DEPARTMENT. 

I.  Accurate  monthly  reports  on  all  places  in  the  City  o£  Chicago 
where  immoral  and  dissolute  persons  congregate,  should  be  made  to 
the  General  Superintendent  of  Police  by  inspectors  of  all  police  divi- 
sions. 

II.  If  any  inspector,  captain  or  officer  fails  to  report  to  the  Gen- 
eral Superintendent  of  Police  all  places  where  immoral  and  dissolute 
persons  congregate,  as  suspicious  or  otherwise,  he  should  be  reduced 
in  rank  or  dismissed  from  the  service. 

III.  Inspectors  of  police  should  immediately  report  to  the  General 
Superintendent  of  Police  all  known  assignation  hotels  and  suspected 
places  of  like  character  and  these  places  should  be  immediately  sup- 
pressed. 

IV.  When  complaints  are  received  by  the  General  Superintendent 
of  Police,  he  should  have  them  investigated  by  officers  directly  con- 
nected with  his  private  office,  and  a report  should  be  made  to  him 
direct  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

V.  A special  morals  police  squad  should  form  a part  of  the  police 
force  of  the  city. 

VI.  We  recommend  that  women  officers  be  added  to  the  police 
force,  whose  duty  should  be  to  render  assistance  to  women  or  girls 
throughout  the  city,  especially  at  all  railroad  stations  or  other  places 
where  inexperienced  women  are  liable  to  need  help.  We  also  recom- 
mend that  some  of  these  women  officers  be  able  to  speak  foreign  lan- 
guages. 

VII.  Police  officers  should  be  compelled  to  designate  whether  or 
not  an  offender  was  charged  with  street  walking,  when  arrests  are 
made  under  Section  270  of  the  Criminal  Code,  and  Sections  1476  and 
1454  of  the  City  Ordinances. 

VIII.  The  General  Superintendent  of  Police  should  direct  all  police 
officers  to  send  to  their  homes  all  children  and  all  young  boys  and 
girls  under  sixteen  years  of  age  found  on  the  streets,  away  from 
their  home  neighborhoods  and  unattended  by  parents  or  guardians, 
after  9 o’clock  in  the  evening. 

IX.  The  police  should  wage  a relentless  warfare  against  houses 
of  prostitution,  immoral  flats,  assignation  rooms,  call  houses,  and  dis- 
orderly saloons  in  all  sections  of  the  city. 


RECOMMENDATIONS 


63 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH. 

I.  We  recommend  that  the  Department  of  Health  of  the  City  of 
Chicago  investigate  and  report  the  extent  of  venereal  diseases  in  Chi- 
cago each  year,  together  with  the  sources  of  infection. 

II.  We  recommend  that  the  Department  of  Health  investigate  and 
report  on  the  question  of  the  practice  of  midwifery  in  Chicago,  with 
such  recommendations  looking  to  its  improvement  as  may  be  deemed 
proper. 

HI.  We  recommend  that  the  Department  of  Health  institute  a rigid 
investigation  into  the  use  of  cocaine  and  other  noxious  drugs,  with  a 
view  at  least  of  limiting  such  sales  by  the  druggists. 

IV.  We  recommend  that  the  Board  of  Health  direct  especial  at- 
tention to  so-called  massage  practice. 

V.  We  recommend  that  the  Department  of  Health  be  given  power 
to  suppress  as  a public  nuisance  any  place  where  venereal  and  other 
contagious  diseases  flourish. 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 

I.  We  recommend  that  the  Board  of  Education  appoint  a com- 
mittee to  investigate  thoroughly  the  advisability  and  methods  of  teach- 
ing social  hygiene  to  the  older  pupils  in  the  public  schools. 

H.  Girls  between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  sixteen  should  receive 
definite  vocational  training  in  continuation  schools. 

HI.  We  recommend  that  the  Board  of  Education  extend  the  use 
of  public  schools  as  social  centers. 

IV.  We  recommend  that  school  grounds  be  open  for  children, 
always  under  close  supervision. 


64 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  PARK  COMMISSIONERS. 

I.  The  parks  should  be  better  policed  and  playgrounds  supervised 
more  carefully. 

II.  Managers  of  dancing  pavilions  should  be  more  vigilant  in  ex- 
cluding professional  prostitutes. 

III.  Soliciting  by  prostitutes  within  park  enclosures  should  be 
rigidly  suppressed. 

IV.  Park  managers  should  extend  greater  protection  to  unaccom- 
panied young  girls,  especially  in  the  evening. 

V.  Public  parks  should  be  better  lighted  and  equipped  with  search 
lights.  Seats  should  be  removed  from  the  deep  shadows. 

RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  CHURCHES  AND  OTHER  RELIGIOUS  BODIES. 

I.  Pastors  and  religious  workers  should  aid  in  arousing  public 
opinion  against  the  open  and  flagrant  expression  of  the  social  evil  in 
this  city. 

II.  The  churches  should  endeavor  to  counteract  the  evil  influences 
in  the  community  by  opening  rooms  attached  to  the  church  buildings 
as  recreational  centers  during  week  day  evenings. 

RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  PARENTS. 

I.  Great  emphasis  should  be  placed  on  parental  responsibility  and 
upon  the  effects  of  church  and  school  in  informing  parents  how  to  safe- 
guard their  children  in  sex  life  and  relationship. 

II.  Parents  should  demand  a signed  statement  from  a reputable 
physician  that  the  man  asking  pennission  to  marry  their  daughter  is 
free  from  venereal  disease. 

III.  We  recommend  the  careful  examination  of  all  printed  material 
offered  to  children  and  purporting  to  give  helpful  instruction  along 
sexual  lines,  and  the  suppression  of  such  as  is  evidently  vicious  in  in- 
tent. Publishers  and  book  sellers  should  not  be  allowed  to  sell  this 
material  to  children. 


RECOMMENDATIONS 


65 


RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  PHILANTHROPIC  AND  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS. 

I.  An  intensive  study  should  be  made  of  the  working  conditions 
and  wages  paid  by  those  establishments  in  Chicago  which  depend  upon 
the  labor  of  girls  and  women.  This  investigation  should  also  ascer- 
tain living  conditions,  cost  of  living  of  different  groups,  and  decide 
on  what  constitutes  a “ living  wage  ” for  each  group. 

II.  Greater  publicity  should  be  given  the  conditions  which  exist 
on  lake  steamers  so  that  parents  will  warn  their  sons  and  daughters 
of  the  moral  dangers  surrounding  them  while  on  such  excursions. 

III.  Immigrant  homes  for  foreign  girls  should  be  established  and 
supported  by  different  nationalities. 

IV.  Immigrant  girls  should  be  warned  not  to  go  to  employment 
agents  who  advertise  in  the  press,  especially  in  foreign  languages,  until 
the  agents  have  been  investigated. 

V.  More  hotels  and  homes  should  be  established  for  working 
women  and  girls. 

VI.  Provision  for  the  rescue  and  reform  of  prostitutes  should 
include  some  plan  for  the  hospital  care  of  drug  users. 


GENERAL  RECOMMENDATION. 

I.  We  recommend  that  the  daily  press  publish  an  appeal  or  protest 
to  parents  that  their  children  be  not  given  too  much  liberty;  that 
parents  and  guardians  accompany  children  of  all  ages  upon  their 
amusement  excursions. 


Chapter  L 


Existing  Conditions 


I li  I J..J . . . 1..^  ^ 1 1 ^1 


Chapter  t. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS  IN  CHICAGO. 

The  Commission,  in  beginning  its  labors,  decided  that,  in  order  to 
work  intelligently,  local  conditions  must  be  thoroughly  known.  Much 
time  and  thought  were  given  to  the  matter  of  selection  of  methods  and 
the  character  of  the  field  investigation.  To  make  a complete  census 
of  all  houses  of  ill-fame,  flats  and  assignation  houses,  with  the  names 
of  owners,  keepers  and  inmates,  would  mean  months  of  work  on  the 
part  of  a large  corps  of  investigators,  and  an  expenditure  of  money 
beyond  the  resources  of  the  Commission.  It  was,  therefore,  decided  to 
accept  such  a list  as  the  Police  could  supply  as  the  basis  of  investi- 
gation, adding  to  it  such  other  places  as  might  come  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  Commission,  directly  or  indirectly.  The  General  Superintendent 
of  Police  ordered  a special  census  to  be  taken,  showing  the  disorderly 
resorts  in  the  precincts  of  the  city.  Such  a list  was  submitted  in 
August,  1910,  and  the  Commission  began  its  investigation.  It  was 
soon  found  that  the  list  was  incomplete,  as  shown  in  another  place  in 
the  Commission’s  report.^  A second  census  was  taken  and  the  list 
submitted  to  the  Commission  in  October,  1910.  This  also  proved  in- 
complete, as  is  shown  elsewhere.  However,  it  was  decided  by  the 
Commission  that,  whether  a complete  census  was,  or  could  be  obtained, 
sufficient  information  was  forthcoming  to  give  a clear  knowledge  of  the 
character  and  extent  of  the  conditions  in  Chicago. 

Seven  expert  and  trained  investigators  were  put  in  the  field.  In 
order  to  eliminate  as  many  errors  as  possible,  each  investigator’s  work 
was  verified  and  checked  up,  unbeknown  to  him,  by  other  investigators. 
In  some  instances  this  was  done  three  times.  We  have  every  reason 
to  believe,  therefore,  that  the  statements  contained  in  this  report  are 
as  correct  and  reliable  as  could  possibly  be  obtained. 

In  addition  to  the  field  investigators,  the  conferences  with  repre- 
sentatives of  various  organizations  and  citizens,  referred  to  in  the 
preface  of  the  report,  were  prolific  of  much  valuable  and  reliable 
information. 

School  census  reports,  issued  by  the  Compulsory  Department  of 

^See  Chapter  III,  page  148. 


69 


70 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


the  Board  of  Education,  were  most  illuminating  and  reliable,  and  gave 
the  Commission  much  helpful  data  regarding  the  dangers  to  children. 

Court  records  were  examined  most  thoroughly,  and  tabulated  figures 
are  in  possession  of  the  Committee,  too  voluminous  to  print  in  this 
report,  showing  the  disposition  of  cases  which  relate  directly  or  in- 
directly to  the  Social  Evil.  The  Municipal  Court  records  for  the 
three  years  of  its  existence  were  most  valuable  to  the  Committee  on 
Law  and  Legislation  in  determining  the  extent  to  which  the  laws 
now  existing  had  been  applied  to  the  local  situation. 

The  rules  and  regulations,  with  the  daily*  bulletin  of  the  General 
Superintendent  of  Police,  gave  such  information  regarding  the  re- 
peated attempts  to  regulate  the  Social  Evil  in  Chicago.  In  this  con- 
nection, it  is  interesting  to  note  the  rules  and  regulations  issued  by  the 
Police,  which  in  many  instances  are  disobeyed  in  part,  or  in  whole.’^ 

The  Commission  does  not  attempt  to  give  absolutely  accurate  figures 
as  to  the  number  of  professional  prostitutes  in  Chicago.  But,  taking 
the  Police  list  as  a basis,  even  though  proved  incomplete,  and  adding 
to  this  the  number  of  resorts  found  by  investigators  which  are  not  on 
the  Police  list,  and  allowing  for  those  which  lack  of  time  and  money 
prevented  discovery,  the  Commission  believes,  after  the  most  careful 
survey,  that  there  are  not  far  from  5,000  who  devote  their  time  wholly 
to  the  business  of  prostitution.  In  its  careful  estimation  larger  figures 
would  be  an  exaggeration  and  probably  unfair. 

As  showing  how  these  figures  were  obtained,  the  following  may  be 
of  interest. 

According  to  the  official  Pojice  list  issued  October  26,  1910,  it  is 
shown  that  there  are  192  houses  of  prostitution  with  2343  rooms  in 
seven  precincts,  with  1012  inmates  and  189  madames  or  keepers.  In 
addition,  the  list  gives  272  flats  with  960  rooms,  at  151  separate  ad- 
dresses, with  419  inmates  and  252  keepers.  The  list  also  contains  the 
addresses  of  42  hotels,  with  1222  rooms,  which  cater  to  an  immoral 
trade.  These  flats  and  hotels  contain  4,525  rooms  used  for  immoral 
purposes.  This  gives  a total  of  506  places  where  immoral  conditions 
exist,  at  385  separate  addresses,  449  keepers,  and  1,431  inmates,  or  a 
total  of  1,880  women  engaged  in  this  business.^ 


^See  Table  I,  Chapter  III,  “ The  Social  Evil  and  the  Police." 
»Table  I. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


71 


According  to  the  Commission  investigation,  there  are  514  houses, 
flats  and  hotels  and  saloons,  used  for  immoral  purposes  not  on  the 
police  list,  with  1,314  women  not  included  in  the  police  list.  This 
gives  a grand  total  of  known  women  engaged  in  the  business  as  3,194. 
We  again  emphasize  the  fact  that  the  Commission  was  unable  to  cover 
the  entire  city  in  its  investigations,  and  that  many  resorts,  their  keep- 
ers and  inmates,  are  still  unrecorded.  The  estimation  of  5,000  is,  there- 
fore, considered  conservative  but  fair.i 

As  intimated,  the  Commission  has  not  sought  to  inquire  into  the 
extent  of  clandestine  prostitution  in  the  city.  The  clandestine  prosti- 
tutes (or  more  correctly  the  immoral  girls  or  women,  married  or 
otherwise)  form  a large  class  in  Chicago.  Because  of  the  peculiar 
phase  of  the  evil  it  was  impossible  for  the  Commission  to  investigate 
conditions  or  make  an  estimate  of  the  number  in  this  class. 

The  Commission,  after  careful  examination  of  the  data  at  hand, 
has  made  an  ultra  conservative  estimate  covering  the  annual  profits  of 
those  interested  in  the  Social  Evil  in  Chicago.  This  includes  the 
owners,  keepers  and  inmates  of  the  houses  and  flats  given  in  the 
police  list;  the  immoral  places  discovered  and  investigated  by  the 
Commission;  and  the  profits  from  the  sale  of  liquor  in  resorts  and 
236  disorderly  saloons. 

From  this  estimate  the  Commission  can  assert  that  the  annual 
profits  in  the  City  of  Chicago  alone,  are  between  15  and  16  million 
dollars.2 

That  this  is  a man  problem  and  that  the  support  of  this  illicit 
traffic  in  bodies  comes  from  men  is  easily  understood  when  the  fol- 
lowing facts  are  learned. 

The  Commission  makes  a rather  conservative  statement  as  to  the 
amount  of  profit;  it  makes  a similar  conservative  statement  concern- 
ing the  men  who  demand  service  from  the  prostitute.  Taking  the 
number  of  women  on  the  police  lists  alone  (who  are  in  recognized 
houses),  or  1,012,  and  multiplying  that  number  by  the  average  number 
of  services  daily,  or  15  instances,  or  15,180  daily,  this  makes  a grand 
total  of  5,540,700  per  annum.^ 


^Tables  III-V. 
^See  page  113. 
*See  page  114. 


72 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


In  order  to  bring  out  vividly  the  present  conditions  the  Commission 
submits  the  information  which  immediately  follows  with  typical  cases 
as  illustrations.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  typical  cases 
are  but  a few  of  hundreds  which  have  been  reported  on  by  investigators 
and  recorded.  They  have  been  carefully  selected  as  being  normal  and 
representative  types  under  the  various  phases  of  the  problem.  Names 
and  addresses  have  been  suppressed,  being  designated  as  (XI),  (X2), 
etc.  The  actual  names  and  addresses  are  in  the  possession  of  the 
Commission.  This  statement  is  made  that  it  may  be  understood  that 
they  are  real — not  hypothetical  cases. 

The  Commission  calls  attention  to  the  following  phases  of  the  evil 
based  on  its  investigations. 

(a)  There  has  been  lax  observance  of  police  regulations  so  long 
that  police  orders  are  not  taken  seriously. 

(b)  That  new  houses,  especially  in  the  flat  buildings,  are  being 
established  in  residential  districts  to  an  alarming  extent.  In  fact, 
there  are  more  houses  of  this  character  in  these  sections  of  the  city 
than  in  the  so-called  restricted  districts.  When  the  order  was  issued 
prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquor  in  the  houses,  many  of  the  keepers  moved 
from  the  restricted  districts  into  the  residential  sections  and  opened 
flats.  In  other  cases  the  former  inmates  established  small  flats  with 
the  assistance  of  some  of  their  regular  customers.  The  telephone  is 
the  main  agency  used  in  conducting  these  flats.  IMost  keepers  have  a 
list  of  young  girls  “ on  call,”  that  is,  girls  who  are  employed  during  the 
day  and  who  are  ready  to  come  to  these  flats  during  the  evenings  when 
there  is  a rush  of  business. 

The  keepers  of  houses  in  flats  invariably  have  young  and  fresh 
girls  or  know  where  they  can  be  found.  Some  of  these  girls  live 
in  nearby  towns  and  come  to  Chicago  at  different  times,  earn  some 
pocket  money,  or  enough  to  buy  outfits  of  clothes,  and  then  return 
home.  They  usually  tell  other  girls  of  their  own  neighborhoods  of  this 
“ easy  graft  ” and  these  in  turn  come  to  Chicago.  Inmates  from  some 
of  the  smaller  flats  spend  the  early  hours  of  the  evening  soliciting 
on  the  street  or  in  downtown  saloons  and  restaurants  where  they 
increase  the  number  of  their  acquaintances,  giving  out  cards  with 
their  addresses  and  telephone  numbers.  After  1:00  A.  M.  they  re- 
turn to  the  flats  and  sell  beer  and  liquor. 

(c)  There  is  a large  number  of  men  who  make  a business  of  con- 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


73 


ducting  houses  of  prostitution  in  Chicago.  These  men  are  in  close 
touch  with  cadets  and  panders  and  spend  most  of  their  leisure  time 
in  gambling.  In  some  houses  the  keepers  insist  on  the  inmates  hav- 
ing cadets  of  their  own  choosing,  and  these  men  keep  watch  over  the 
girls.  In  one  house  of  white  inmates  the  “ cadets  ” are  all  colored 
young  men. 

(d)  Pervert  methods  are  on  the  increase  in  the  higher  priced 
houses.  The  inmates  who  perform  these  services  earn  from  two  to 
three  times  as  much  money  as  the  so-called  “regular”  girls.  In  one  no- 
torious place  known  all  over  the  country  and  which  caters  to  a so- 
called  high  class  trade,  these  methods  are  used  almost  exclusively. 
The  inmates  gave  testimony  before  the  Commission  that  they  do  this 
on  the  advice  of  their  physician,  who  says  it  prevents  disease  and 
other  troubles. 

(e)  Solicitation  is  still  going  on  from  doorways,  stoops  and  win- 
dows of  houses,  but  to  a small  extent  compared  with  that  of  former 
years.  The  inmates  sit  behind  curtained  windows  and  as  men  ap- 
proach the  houses  they  tap  on  the  window  panes.  Lookouts  are  sta- 
tioned near  the  windows  and  in  front  of  saloons  and  warn  the  so- 
licitors when  the  officer  on  the  beat  approaches.  In  some  instances 
these  lookouts  touch  an  electric  bell  concealed  behind  a sign  or  make 
significant  motions  with  their  hands. 

(f)  There  are  quite  a number  of  massage  parlors,  manicure  estab- 
lishments and  Turkish  baths,  especially  in  the  downtown  business  dis- 
trict, which  are  in  reality  nothing  but  houses  of  prostitution  of  the 
most  revolting  and  insidious  type.  It  is  practically  impossible  to  se- 
cure legal  evidence  against  these  places,  and  they  continue  their  in- 
famous practices. 

(g)  Assignation  hotels  are  scattered  all  over  the  city,  especially 
in  the  downtown  district,  and  on  the  West  and  North  sides.  Prosti- 
tutes in  saloons  and  on  the  street  use  these  cheap  places.  The  charge 
for  rooms  varies  from  25  cents  to  $2.00.  The  conditions  in  many  of 
these  hotels  are  insanitary.  The  furniture  is  cheap  and  the  beds  are 
used  by  many  different  persons  each  night  without  change  of  linen. 
These  places,  as  used  by  street  walkers  and  women  soliciting  in 
saloons,  are  the  source  of  the  spread  of  venereal  disease  to  a greater 
extent  than  any  other  expression  of  the  social  evil.  There  are  practi- 


74 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


cally  no  provisions  for  cleanliness  on  the  part  of  either  the  men  or  the 
women. 

There  are  also  a great  many  assignation  rooms  especially  on  the 
North  side  from  the  river  to  Chicago  avenue  and  on  the  side  streets 
West  of  State.  These  rooms  are  used  to  the  same  extent  as  the 
hotels  and  the  conditions  in  them  are  about  the  same.  These  so-called 
rooming  houses  are  a source  of  great  danger  to  young  men  and  women 
who  are  compelled  to  live  in  cheap  quarters.  Young  men  or  women 
strangers  in  the  city,  may  find  themselves  living  next  door  or  on  the 
same  floor  with  vile  men  and  women. 

(h)  The  so-called  medical  inspection  of  inmates  in  Chicago  by 
private  physicians  employed  by  madames  of  houses  is  practically 
worthless  and  has  become  a source  of  graft.  Instances  have  come  to 
light  where  inmates  have  been  allowed  to  remain  as  workers  in  houses 
when  they  were  afflicted  with  disease.  This  has  been  done  with  the 
knowledge  of  the  attending  physician  and  the  keepers. 

(i)  The  conditions  regarding  immoral  shows  and  exhibitions  have 
greatly  improved,  but  they  are  not  wholly  eradicated.  A description 
of  these  shows  as  given  by  investigators  is  too  vile  and  disgusting  to 
appear  in  print. 

(j)  Certain  theatrical  managers  in  the  city  are  inclined  to  present 
plays  which  are  on  a low  moral  plane.  The  advertisements  of  these 
plays,  as  well  as  of  others,  appear  on  many  of  the  bill  boards,  and 
are  offensive  to  the  eyes  of  decent  citizens,  and  suggestive  to  the 
young  boys  and  girls.  Such  matters  should  be  adequately  supervised 
in  the  interest  of  public  morality. 

The  investigations  conducted  by  the  Commission  show  that  most 
of  the  crimes  such  as  robbery  and  gambling  are  committed  by  men 
who  are  attached  to  houses  of  prostitution,  or  who  live  off  the  proceeds 
of  their  women. 

But  the  thefts  and  crimes  of  violence  in  connection  with  the  Social 
Evil  are  no  more  prevalent  than  one  would  naturally  expect  who  is 
acquainted  with  the  actual  conditions  of  the  existence  of  the  Social 
Evil  in  a large  community  like  Chicago. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  much  money  is  stolen  from  men  who 
take  their  chances  in  going  into  houses  of  prostitution  or  consorting 
with  street  walkers.  These  losses  are  probably  only  reported  in  the 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


75 


exceptional  case,  and  even  the  attempted  prosecution  is  often  promptly 
squelched  when,  for  an  example,  certain  tricks  are  resorted  to  by  attor- 
neys for  the  defense,  such  as  threatening  to  bring  the  complainant’s 
wife  or  family  into  court  as  witnesses.  Any  loss  would  be  stood 
rather  than  have  this  occur,  and  indeed  the  shame  of  acknowledging 
the  incidents  connected  with  the  theft  will  prevent  almost  anyone  from 
reporting  the  loss  to  the  police.  Extortionate  charges  for  small  items, 
such  as  in  the  old  days  for  beer  and  now-a-days  for  its  substitutes, 
form  other  methods  of  parting  a visitor  from  his  cash.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  older  and  grosser  forms  of  theft  combined  with  personal 
violence  and  extortion,  such  as  the  panel  and  strong-arm  game,  have 
been  largely  discontinued,  and  it  must  be  remembered  that  those  houses 
of  prostitution  which  rely  upon  regular  customers  and  the  recommen- 
dations of  well-to-do  people  cannot  afford,  for  definite  business  rea- 
sons, to  allow  criminal  transactions  to  be  connected  with  their  places. 
The  very  commercialization  of  the  vice  would  tend  to  strip  it  of  the 
dangerous  connection  with  crime.  No  doubt  men  befuddled  by  drink 
will  always  be  regarded  as  victims  by  vicious  women,  but  the  chances 
of  their  being  unmolested  are  certainly  greater  in  a regular  house, 
than  when  they  associate  with  casual  acquaintances  in  vice.  All  told, 
the  Commission  has  heard  of  nothing  on  this  point  that  calls  for 
special  recommendations. 


TYPICAL  CASES. 

The  following  typical  cases  are  given  as  illustrations  of  conditions 
surrounding  houses,  flats,  assignation  rooms  and  hotels. ^ 

I.  Houses,  (XI)  avenue  No.  (Xla).  According  to  the  records  this 
house  is  owned  by  an  estate  and  is  under  the  trusteeship  of  a woman. 
The  house  is  a two-story  frame  building.  The  lower  floor  front  is 
used  as  a reception  room  with  a piano  which  is  played  by  a white 
woman  who  collects  money  for  the  music.  A man  by  the  name  of 
(Xlb)  operates  the  house  and  lives  with  the  keeper.  This  man  checks 
up  the  receipts  and  pays  off  the  inmates  every  day  at  4 : 00  P.  M.  The 
rent  for  this  house  is  $175.00  per  month  on  a yearly  basis.  A colored 
girl  named  (X2)  has  immediate  charge  and  collects  the  money.  The 
charge  for  service  is  $1.00.  The  sanitary  conditions  are  very  poor. 
There  are  six  inmates  in  the  house  as  follows 


ipor  Text  of  Laws  and  Ordinances  see  Appendices  I-II-III-V. 

^The  real  names  of  girls  referred  to  throughout  this  report  have  been 
changed  practically  in  every  instance. 


76 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Eva  (X3),  is  about  30  years  of  age.  Has  been  an  inmate  of  this 
resort  for  three  years.  Her  parents  live  in  (X3a),  Michigan.  She 
says  they  are  well  off.  She  sends  $10.00  home  each  week  for  her 
parents  to  save  for  her.  She  has  no  cadet  and  lives  on  the  premises. 

Violet  (X4),  alias  May  (X5).  May  is  about  25  years  of  age. 
Been  an  inmate  of  this  house  two  and  one-half  years.  Has  no  cadet. 
Lives  with  another  inmate,  Ray  (X6)  at  the  (X7)  Hotel  (X8)  State 
street. 

Ray  (X9).  Fictitious  name.  Ray  was  brought  to  this  city  five 
years  ago  from  New  York  by  (XIO).  She  claims  to  have  been  inno- 
cent up  to  this  time.  Is  about  24  years  of  age.  (XIO)  put  her  in 
(X12)  house  on  Custom  House  place.  She  lived  with  him  and  gave' 
him  her  money  for  about  six  months.  This  inmate  lives  with  Margaret 
(X13)  at  the  (X14)  Hotel.  She  and  Margaret  leave  the  resort  at 
4 : 00  A.  M. ; they  must  return  at  2 ; 00  P.  M.-  except  on  their  day  off. 

Pearl.  Last  name  not  given ; about  21  years  of  age.  Been  in  house 
one  year. 

Mignon.  About  23  years  of  age.  Been  in  house  two  years.  Lives 
on  premises. 

Fifie.  About  28  years  old.  Been  in  house  two  years.  Lives  on 
premises. 

II.  Disease  in  House  of  Prostitution.  This  is  a case  of  an  in- 
mate afflicted  with  syphilis  who  was  allowed  to  remain  in  the  house, 
the  keeper  and  her  physicians  knowing  of  her  disease. 

Bebet  (X15).  Born  in  (X16),  Mo.,  came  to  Chicago  about  10  years 
ago.  She  is  28  years  of  age,  and  seems  to  be  fairly  well  educated. 
She  still  writes  to  her  parents.  She  entered  the  (X17)  House  at 
(X18)  avenue,  owned  by  (X19)  and  kept  for  him  by  Madame  (X20), 
(X21)  avenue.  Is  on  Police  List.  In  August,  1908,  when  Bebet  con- 
tracted this  disease,  she  went  to  Dr.  (X22),  (X23)  State  street,  who 
graduated  from  (X24),  a night  medical  school,  in  1902.  At  this  time 
Dr.  (X25)  was  house  physician  for  (X26)  avenue.  Dr.  (X27)  wanted 
$200.00  to  cure  her.  He  gave  her  a prescription  but  she  did  not  have  it 
filled,  as  she  did  not  want  this  doctor  to  treat  her,  because  he  was  a 
negro.  She  then  went  to  Dr.  (X28),  22nd  street,  corner  of  (X29) 
and  she  gave  him  $100.00.  This  doctor  treated  her  for  some  time 
without  results.  One  day  necrosis  of  the  palm  of  the  hand  set  in 
and  she  was  advised  to  go  to  Dr.  (X30),  (X31)  street.  This  doctor 
wanted  $400.00  to  cure  her.  She  made  arrangements  to  pay  a stated 
amount  on  each  visit.  At  this  time  she  was  forced  to  give  up  her 
service  in  the  house ; the  week  she  was  in  bed  was  the  only  time  she 
refrained  from  rendering  service.  All  of  the  physicians  knew  she  was 
receiving  men.  The  landlady  (X32),  offered  no  objections.  At  one 
time  she  was  so  hoarse  she  could  not  talk  and  her  mouth  was  so  sore 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


77 


she  could  not  eat.  Dr.  (X33)  gave  her  a red  mouth  wash  and  later 
told  her  it  was  time  to  go  to  Hot  Springs,  which  she  did.  Bebet  is 
now  living  with  a man  on  (X34)  avenue  where  she  was  seen  by  in- 
vestigator. Later,  Jan.,  1911;  Bebet  is  now  an  inmate  of  (X35)  ave- 
nue. There  are  eighteen  girls  in  this  house,  and  twelve  of  them,  it 
is  claimed,  have  syphilis.^ 

III.  Immoral  Shows  in  Houses.  (X36)  street,  on  police  list. 
Owner  (X37),  keeper  (X38).  Eight  inmates,  according  to  the  police 
list. 

On  October  2,  1910,  about  11:30  P.  M.,  eight  men  entered  this 
house  and  were  taken  to  the  rear  parlor.  Four  girls  took  part  in  the 
show.  The  description  of  this  show  and  the  one  given  at  (X39)  Dear- 
born street  is  too  vile  to  print. 

IV.  Sale  of  Beer  in  Houses.  (X40)  street.  On  police  list. 

On  October  8,  1910,  investigator  purchased  a pint  bottle  of  beer  in 
this  resort,  for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  $1.00.  At  first  the  madame 
did  not  want  to  serve  the  beer,  saying  they  had  been  prohibited  from 
doing  so  on  May  1.  She  said  she  was  not  afraid  of  trouble,  but  they 
only  sold  to  persons  they  knew  personally.  She  sold  beer  to  the  in- 
vestigator whom  she  did  not  know. 

(X41)  West  Madison  street.  On  Police  List.  (X42)  two  inmates 

On  October  24th  investigator  purchased  beer  at  25  cents  per  pint  in 
this  house.  When  the  Police  came  around  to  see  if  there  was  beer  in 
this  place,  they  looked  in  the  ice  box,  and  not  finding  any,  went  away. 
As  a matter  of  fact  the  beer  was  kept  in  the  flush  box  in  the  toilet 
room.  The  keeper,  Mrs.  (X43),  is  a notorious  woman  well  known 
to  the  police. 

During  the  evening  of  November  17th,  while  investigator  was  in  the 
(X44)  saloon  at  (X45)  Dearborn  street,  a colored  maid  from  a house 
of  ill-fame  (X46)  Dearborn  street,  came  in  with  a large  shawl  over 
her  shoulders.  She  went  to  the  bar  and  was  given  six  bottles  of  beer, 
which  she  covered  with  the  shawl  and  left  the  saloon.  She  did  not  pay 
for  the  beer,  but  the  charge  was  noted  down  by  the  bartender. 

Not  long  afterward  a maid  from  a house  of  ill-fame  at  (X47)  Dear- 
born street  came  into  this  same  saloon  and  was  given  six  bottles  of 
beer,  which  were  concealed  in  the  same  manner.  The  charge  was  also 
noted  down  by  the  bartender. 

V.  Exploitation  of  Inmates.  An  inmate  of  (X48)  avenue  said 
that  the  kimono  she  had  on  could  be  purchased  over  the  counter  for 
$3.00.  She  had  paid  $15.00  for  it  to  a man  who  came  to  the  house.  Of 
this  amount  the  madame  received  $9.00  and  the  salesman  $6.00.  She 

^The  Commissioner  of  Health  has  placarded  certain  houses  because 
venereal  diseases  were  known  to  exist  therein. 


78 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


further  stated  that  the  madame  receives  a “rake-off”  on  everything  the 
girls  purchase.  They  never  “kick”  on  any  bills.  They  know  they  get 
“the  worst  of  it”  all  the  time.  Neither  does  the  madame  “kick”  at 
her  bills ; they  are  paid  without  question,  every  bill,  whether  for  light, 
ice,  laundry,  coal,  etc.,  is  padded,  and  they  are  compelled  “to  stand 
for  it.” 

Jan.  29.  Dolly,  an  inmate  of  (X49)  avenue,  recently  paid  (X50), 
keeper  of  the  house,  $110.00  for  a hat,  which  he  had  bought  for  $40.00. 
Another  inmate  of  this  house  paid  this  same  man  $65.00  for  a dress 
which  he  had  purchased  for  $35.00.  Two  weeks  ago  this  same  man 
had  a number  of  rings  which  he  had  purchased  for  $5.00  and  $7.00. 
He  sold  $5.00  rings  to  inmates  for  $11.00  and  $15.00  and  the  $7.00 
rings  for  $20.00.  He  is  continually  urging  the  girls  to  buy  clothes, 
hats,  jewelry  and  other  things. 

VI.  Methods  of  Advertising.  The  madames  of  houses,  like  the 
proprietors  of  other  enterprises  always  have  regular  business  cards 
which  they  distribute  as  occasion,  requires.  The  inmates  also  use 
cards  with  which  they  endeavor  to  establish  a regular  line  of  cus- 
tomers. 

A Dearborn  street  resort  distributes  a very  elaborate  booklet  which 
describes  in  glowing  terms  the  comforts  to  be  found  within  the  walls 
of  that  “sumptuous”  house.  In  fact  no  one  need  “feel  the  chill  of 
winter  nor  the  heat  of  summer”  in  this  place. 

The  madames  of  flats  also  have  cards  and  a system  of  passing 
the  word  along  to  exclusive  gentlemen  who  desire  “quiet  and  safe  ac- 
commodations.” 

Girls  on  the  streets  and  in  saloons  use  cards  giving  telephone  num- 
bers and  suggestive  inscriptions. 

The  chief  advertising,  however,  is  the  district  itself.  The  lighted 
street,  the  sound  of  music,  the  shrill  cries  and  suggestive  songs  of  the 
inmates  and  entertainers,  all  of  these  features  tend  to  bring  the  busi- 
ness to  the  attention  of  the  public  and  to  spread  the  news  to  other 
towns  and  cities. 

The  recent  Gypsy  Smith  parade  gave  the  22nd  street  district  un- 
fortunate advertising  both  in  this  city  and  throughout  the  county.  The 
scenes  in  this  district  after  the  parade  were  beyond  description ; hun- 
dreds of  men  and  women  of  mature  years  and  an  equal  number  of 
young  men  and  women  apparently  from  respectable  walks  of  life  who 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


79 


had  never  been  in  the  district  before  were  drawn  there.  Reliable  per- 
sons who  went  to  observe  the  effects  of  the  parade  declare  the 
saloons  never  did  such  a large  business  nor  were  the  houses  so  crowded 
with  men  and  boys. 

VII.  Men  Connected  with  Houses.  For  several  years  it  has  been 
customary  for  a certain  political  club  to  give  an  annual  ball  in  the 
Coliseum  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  for  a campaign  fund.  This 
ball  was  notorious  from  the  fact  that  those  who  attended  it  were  for 
the  most  part  immoral  women  and  men  who  are  engaged  in  the  social 
evil  business,  the  sale  of  liquor  and  gambling.  The  giving  of  this  ball 
has  always  been  a disgrace  to  the  City  of  Chicago. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Commission  that  this  and  any  other  similar 
affair  should  never  be  allowed  again. 

VIII.  Flats.  (X51)  South  Park  avejiue.  Flat  (X52),  not  on 
Police  List.  Bee  (X53)  solicited  on  Indiana  avenue  to  go  to  this  place. 
Price  of  room,  $2.00. 

(X54)  Indiana  avenue.  Not  on  Police  List.  Kept  by  Mrs.  (X55). 
She  has  a list  of  girls  whom  she  calls  in  by  telephone.  Rents  rooms  for 
$2.00.  Has  been  in  this  business  two  years.  During  this  time  she  has 
paid  for  a home.  Investigator  was  solicited  on  street  to  go  to  this  flat. 

(X56)  East  21st  street.  Esther  (X57)  lives  in  flat  (X58).  She  is 
18  years  old  and  came  from  Michigan.  Beer  is  sold  here,  price  $1.00 
per  bottle.  There  are  18  flats  in  this  building  which  are  used  for  im- 
moral purposes. 

(X59)  West  22nd  street.  On  Police  List.  Addie  (X60)  lives  on 
top  floor.  Said  she  paid  a fine  of  $200.00  for  selling  beer  two  months 
ago.  On  November  15th  detectives  went  through  the  flat  and  searched 
for  beer,  but  only  looked  in  the  ice  boxes.  The  beer  was  on  the  fire 
escape,  and  it  was  sold  for  $1.00  per  quart. 

One  woman,  Mollie  (X61),  lives  near  Oak  Park  and  solicits  in 
(X62).  Her  husband  is  dying  in  (X62a).  She  said  that  she  began 
this  life  only  recently  because  of  her  extra  expense  in  caring  for  her 
husband. 

A TYPICAL  FLAT. 

During  the  month  of  September,  investigator  discovered  a flat  which 
is  being  conducted  as  a house  of  prostitution  in  a large  apartment 
house  in  a residential  section  of  the  city. 

As  the  woman  who  operated  this  place  seemed  willing  to  talk, 
and  was  not  suspicious,  it  was  determined  to  find  out  as  much  as  pos- 
sible about  the  method  of  conducting  such  a place,  as,  ownership, 


80 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


agent,  securing  inmates,  prices,  sale  of  beer,  police,  etc.  Four  in- 
vestigators at  different  times,  one  a woman,  worked  on  this  case 
and  their  findings,  all  of  which  were  verified,  are  given  below. 

Ownership  of  Property.  According  to  the  records  the  owner  of  this 
building  is  Emma  (X63),  living  at  (X64)  East  24th  street. 

Real  Estate  Agent.  The  real  estate  agent,  according  to  the  rent 
collector,  is  (X65),  (X66)  Dearborn  street. 

Rent  Collector.  A man  by  the  name  of  (X67)  collects  the  rents. 
He  lives  at  (X68)  East  24th  street,  the  same  address  as  the  owner  of 
the  property.  Investigator  called  on  Mr.  (X67)  and  spoke  of  renting 
one  of  the  flats  in  this  building  giving  him  to  understand  that  he 
wanted  it  for  immoral  purposes.  Mr.  (X67)  said  that  he  was  only  the 
attorney  for  the  building,  but  would  see  what  he  could  do. 

Keeper  of  Flat.  The  particular  flat  in  this  building  which  was 
investigated  is  on  the  police  list.  Mrs.  (X71)  is  the  keeper.  She  has 
been  in  this  business  between  four  and  five  years.  At  one  time  sne 
lived  on  East  33rd  street.  Mrs.  ■(X71)  has  been  very  successful 
and  has  a home  which  she  has  purchased  out  of  the  proceeds  of  her 
business.  At  present  she  wants  to  retire  and  offers  her  furniture  and 
business  for  $1,400.00. 

Description  of  Flat.  There  are  six  rooms  in  this  apartment,  four 
of  these  being  bedrooms.  A couch  is  in  the  dining  room  for  special 
occasions.  There  is  a bath  room  and  a kitchen. 

Expenses  of  Conducting  the  Flat.  The  rent  is  $50.00  per  month, 
legitimate  price  $30.00,  light  about  $3.50,  maid  $5.00  per  week.  In 
addition  to  this  the  expense  for  laundry,  ice  and  food  must  be  added. 

Receipts.  Mrs.  (X71)  said  the  lowest  amount  taken  in  by  her  in 
a month  was  $165.00,  the  highest  $340.00.  She  charges  each  of  her 
two  inmates  from  $10.00  to  $15.00  per  week  for  board.  The  prices 
charged  in  this  flat  are  $5.00,  $7.00  and  $10.00  according  to  the  lengtfi 
of  time  the  customer  stays.  She  receives  $2.00  on  every  $5.00  earned 
by  the  girls.  In  addition  she  sells  beer  at  $1.00  per  bottle,  and  rents 
her  rooms  to  couples  for  such  prices  as  $2.00  for  a short  time  and 
$4.00  and  $5.00  for  all  night. 

Securing  Inmates.  This  keeper  seems  to  take  great  pride  in  the 
fact  that  her  girls  are  always  fresh,  young  and  attractive.  She  will 
not  have  a prostitute  in  her  place  who  has  ever  been  in  houses  of 
ill-fame,  such  as  exist  on  Dearborn  street  and  (X69)  avenue.  These 
girls,  she  said,  will  never  do  in  a quiet  place.  They  love  excitement, 
the  music,  lights  and  large  business  at  small  prices.  They  also  want 
to  have  cadets.  Once  she  took  such  a girl,  but  she  could  not  keep  her 
as  she  longed  to  return  to  the  excitement  of  her  former  life  and  her 
cadet. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


81 


The  girls  who  do  come  to  her,  are  in  many  instances  from  sur- 
rounding towns  or  from  other  States.  They  stay  long  enough  to  earn 
a few  clothes  and  then  return  home,  where  they  tell  other  girls  of  the 
easy  way  they  earned  their  clothes. 

Mrs.  (X71)  has  a list  of  20  or  22  girls  who  have  been  with  her 
at  different  times.  They  come  and  go. 

One  of  the  girls  now  in  the  flat  is  called  Rosie.  This  girl  lives  in 
Iowa,  and  was  so  wild  at  home  that  her  mother  could  do  nothing  with 
her  so  she  came  to  Chicago.  Sometimes  Rosie  and  the  keeper  have  a 
quarrel  and  the  girl  returns  home.  After  awhile  she  writes  and  says 
she  wants  to  return  to  the  flat,  so  Mrs.  (X71)  sends  her  a ticket. 
Rosie  is  one  of  a family  of  three  or  four  boys  and  three  girls.  One 
of  these  sisters,  called  Violet,  has  also  been  an  inmate  of  the  flat  and 
comes  occasionally.  Rosie’s  mother  says  she  realizes  that  Mrs.  (X71) 
can  do  more  with  her  daughter  than  she  can  so  she  allows  her  to 
come. 

The  last  time  Violet  was  in  the  flat  .she  stayed  10  days  and  earned 
$50.00,  then  went  home  again.  She  is  25  years  old.  Rosie  is  younger 
and  a good  money  maker.  During  July,  Rosie  earned  $156.00  as  her 
share.  During  27  days  in  August  she  earned  $171.00. 

Customers.  The  men  who  come  to  this  flat  are  mostly  married. 
Mrs.  (X71)  says  they  are  “gentlemen”  and  do  not  make  any  trouble. 
They  prefer  a place  that  is  quiet  and  secret.  Other  customers  are 
buyers  from  commercial  houses,  bringing  out  of  town  men  who  are 
here  to  purchase  goods.  In  addition  to  this  there  are  many  traveling 
men  who  bring  friends  who  gradually  become  regular  customers. 

The  Flat  as  a Call  House.  The  business  in  Mrs.  (X71)  flat  depends 
largely  on  the  telephone  service.  The  girls  are  summoned  to  go  to 
similar  flats  about  town  if  they  are  needed,  and  in  turn  Mrs.  (X71) 
secures  girls  from  other  flats  when  her  regular  inmates  are  out  when  a 
customer  calls.  For  instance  on  September  20th  the  investigator  was 
in  the  flat  when  only  one  girl  was  at  home.  In  a few  moments  a tele- 
phone call  came  for  the  girl,  Helen  (X80),  to  go  to  a flat  near  bv 
On  September  30th  a ’phone  call  came  for  three  girls  to  go  to  (XSl) 
restaurant  on  Madison  street  and  report  in  the  back  room  where  they 
had  been  the  previous  night.  There  was  only  one  girl  in  the  flat  at 
the  time,  so  Mrs.  (X71)  called  up  Calumet  (X83)  and  Douglas  (X84) 
and  arranged  for  two  other  girls  to  meet  this  girl  and  go  to  the 
restaurant. 

Renting  a Flat.  Mrs.  (X71)  gave  the  investigator  who  was  the 
supposed  purchaser  of  her  flat,  the  following  advice  regarding  the 
renting  of  a flat  for  immoral  purposes : 

“ Do  not  go  to  an  agent,  they  will  increase  the  rent.  Ask  th'e 
servants  or  janitor  the  price.  You  can  rent  furnished  rooms,  but 
only  from  month  to  month  from  different  keepers  who  want  to 
go  away  or  take  a rest.  But  you  must  be  careful  for  they  often 
come  back  and  put  you  out  after  you  have  started.” 


82 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


She  then  mentioned  a Mrs.  (X86)  and  said  she  charges  $60.00  for 
her  $40.00  flat  on  such  terms. 

Another  one  of  the  keepers  was  Edna  (X87)  who  has  three  flats 
at  (X88)  Wabash  avenue.  Edna  has  been  in  this  business  since  she 
was  21  years  of  age,  and  has  conducted  these  flats  with  her  sister 
seven  years.  She  does  not  keep  girls  in  the  flat  except  during  the 
time  when  there  is  some  special  celebration  in  Chicago.  During  a re- 
cent celebration  which  continued  for  one  week  she  made  $700.00  At 
such  times  she  gives  her  inmates  half  the  proceeds.  Her  prices  are 
$5.00  an  hour,  $7.00  and  $10.00  for  longer  periods.  She  receives 
$1.00  for  beer,  50  cents  for  a glass  of  wine,  $3.00  for  a pint  of  cham- 
pagne and  $5.00  for  a quart  of  champagne. 

She  declares  that  her  customers  are  all  first  class,  managers,  buy- 
ers and  salesmen  from  department  stores,  such  as  (X89),  the  different 
clubs  and  hotels.  She  is  tired  of  it  and  wants  to  sell  out,  buy  an  orange 
grove  in  California  and  be  a good  woman.  She  took  care  of  her 
mother  and  father  for  years,  but  they  are  now  dead.  She  never  mar- 
ried and  would  not  have  a cadet.  She  claims  to  make  from  $6,000.00 
to  $7,000.00  each  year.  Her  rent  is  $37.50  per  month.  Not  long  ago, 
a former  keeper.  Rose  (X90)  came  to  the  flat  and  asked  Edna  to  put 
her  on  call.  At  one  time  this  woman  had  $150,000.00,  but  she  gave  it 
all  to  a man  and  is  now  penniless. 

IX.  Sale  of  Liquor  in  Houses,  Flats  and  Hotels.  The  profits  from 
the  sale  of  beer  and  other  liquors  in  these  places  are  enormous.^ 

Madames  of  houses  and  flats  testify  that  the  privilege  to  sell 
liquor  in  connection  with  the  business  is  a valuable  asset  and  if  de- 
prived of  it  their  business  as  a whole  would  suffer.  In  many  houses 
the  inmates  spend  practically  all  of  their  time  during  the  early  part 
of  the  evening  in  persuading  visitors  to  buy  drinks.  One  of  the  most 
practical  moves  to  reduce  the  evil  effects  of  this  business  as  it  ex- 
ists in  houses  and  flats  is  to  strictly  enforce  the  regulation  forbidding 
the  sale  of  liquor  in  those  places.  This  is  seen  by  the  effect  of  ihe 
police  order  issued  May  1,  1910.  As  a result,  rents  of  houses  in  the 
restricted  districts  have  decreased,  many  inmates  have  been  compelled 
to  leave  the  district,  madames  have  established  houses  elsewhere,  and  a 
general  depression  has  settled  down  on  the  business. 

The  madame  at  (X91)  Dearborn  street  told  investigator  that  this 
house  previously  rented  for  $500.00 ; after  the'  order  went  into  effect 
she  only  pays  $250.00.  She  would  be  more  than  glad  to  pay  the 
$500.00  if  she  could  sell  beer. 


^See  page  111. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


83 


Another  madame  declared  that  the  income  from  her  business  had 
decreased  $2,0CX).00  per  month  since  this  order  was  issued.  One  in- 
mate said  that  the  girls  were  each  losing  from  $25.00  to  $45.00  per 
week  on  commissions. 

One  keeper  of  a regular  house  on  Dearborn  street,  at  least,  has  be- 
come so  desperate  that  he  is  remodeling  his  house,  which  is  connected 
with  a saloon  on  the  corner,  and  turning  it  into  a hotel.  His  plan  is 
to  secure  a hotel  license  in  order  to  evade  the  regulation. 

The  atmosphere  at  the  present  time  in  houses  where  liquor  is  not 
sold  is  far  different  from  what  it  was  before.  The  girls,  deprived  of 
this  stimulant,  are  depressed  and  sullen.  They  sit  about  the  parlor 
making  feeble  efforts  to  earn  commissions  on  the  soft  drinks  which 
are  sold  at  the  same  prices  formerly  charged  for  beer,  but  the  sales 
are  small. 

Another  trouble  which  has  grown  out  of  the  order,  according  to 
some,  is  the  practice  of  visitors  of  bringing  bottles  o^  whiskey  into 
these  resorts  and  taking  them  to  the  rooms  of  inmates  and  compelling 
them  to  drink.  Many  of  the  inmates  are  not  used  to  strong  intoxi- 
cants, and  they  resent  this  sort  of  treatment.  As  every  one  knows,  a 
person  who  is  a beer  drinker,  does  not,  as  a rule,  touch  whiskey  and 
vice  versa. 

Another  objection  is  made  by  the  madames.  They  consider  it  a 
great  injustice  for  them  to  be  deprived  of  the  benefits  of  selling 
liquor,  when  a saloon  probably  on  the  same  street  or  next  door,  which 
uses  immoral  women  as  an  adjunct  to  its  business  in  the  rear  rooms, 
and  which  is  in  reality  a house  of  ill  fame,  is  unmolested. 

Of  course,  the  objections  by  madames  and  keepers  are  not  to  be 
considered,  but  there  is  one  bad  feature  which  can  and  should  be 
remedied.  The  effect  of  the  police  rule  has  been  good  as  shown  by 
the  objections  of  the  madames  and  inmates.  The  bad  feature  is  that 
a large  number  of  the  inmates,  through  the  aid  of  friends,  have  es- 
tablished private  flats  in  residential  sections  where  they  are  free  to 
sell  beer  and  liquor  unmolested.  Some  of  the  madamles  have  also 
moved  into  residential  sections,  taking  with  them  a certain  number 
of  inmates,  the  others  going  on  the  streets  or  are  frequently  in  the 
rear  rooms  of  saloons. 

This  has  increased  the  trouble  in  controlling  the  evil  in  these  sec- 
tions. 


84 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


X.  Massage  Parlors  and  Baths.  One  of  the  most  insidious  and  re- 
volting forms  of  immorality  in  Chicago  is  that  which  finds  its  ex- 
pression in  so-called  massage  parlors  and  baths.  It  has  not  been 
possible  to  make  an  extended  investigation  of  this  phase  of  the  prob- 
lem. Enough  has  been  done,  however,  to  show  that  it  does  exist  and  to 
recommend  that  a more  vigilant  supervision  be  exercised  over  them. 
Fortunately,  this  revolting  type  of  immorality  is  not  as  extensive  as  it 
might  be. 

These  so-called  massage  parlors  and  baths  are  for  the  most  part 
located  in  the  down  town  districts,  within  the  loop. 

XI.  Hotels.  (X92)  Hotel.  (X93)  West  Erie  street.  Not  on  police 
list.  Minnie  solicited  on  street  for  this  hotel. 

October  4th.  (X94)  Hotel,  (X95)  North  Clark  street.  Not  on 
police  list.  VVoman  soliciting  by  the  name  of  (X96)  said  this  place  was 
an  assignation  place. 

(X97)  Hotel,  (X98)  North  Clark  street.  Not  on  police  list.  In- 
vestigator was  solicited  on  North  Clark  street  by  Hilda  (X99)  and 
Chilla  (XlOO)  to  go  to  this  hotel. 

(XlOl)  Hotel,  (X102)  North  Clark  street.  Not  on  police  list. 
Investigator  solicited  on  North  Clark  street  by  Hilda  (Xl03)  and 
Chilla  (X104)  at  different  times  to  go  to  this  hotel. 

(X105)  West  Madison  street.  On  police  list.  Solicited  investigator 
on  street  to  go  to  this  hotel. 

Hotel  (X106),  (X107)  West  Monroe.  May  solicited  investigator  to 
go  to  this  hotel. 

Hotel  (X108),  Wabash  avenue.  Eight  girls  solicited  investigator  to 
go  to  this  hotel. 

Hotel  (X109),  State  street.  Six  girls  solicited  investigator  to  go  to 
this  hotel. 

Hotel  (XI 10)  Plymouth  court.  Ruth  solicited  investigator  to  go  to 
this  hotel. 

Hotel  (Xlll),  Michigan  avenue.  Maud  solicited  investigator  to  go 
to  this  hotel. 

XII.  Use  of  Cocaine  and  Morphine  by  Prostitutes.  It  is  generally 
recognized  that  immoral  women  and  their  “cadets”  are  addicted  to  the 
use  of  cocaine  and  morphine  as  well  as  other  drugs  and  liquor.  Most 
of  the  cocaine  purchased  by  habitues  is  secured  through  ph}’sicians. 
Much  of  the  morphine  is  nearly  always  obtained  from  druggists  by 
merely  asking  for  it  and  paying  the  price  asked. 

In  a canvass  of  drug  stores  outside  the  restricted  district  it  was 
found  that  they  do  not  sell  more  than  three  drams  of  cocaine  and  four 
ounces  of  morphine  each  month.  On  the  other  hand  the  four  drug 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


85 


stores  within  this  district  sell  at  least  four  pounds  of  morphine  and 
six  ounces  of  cocaine  each  month.  It  is  practically  impossible  to  as- 
certain exactly  how  much  cocaine  or  morphine  any  particular  drug 
store  buys  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  wholesale  houses  keep  a record.  The 
druggist  who  sells  cocaine  illegally,  orders  some  through  his  friends  or 
orders  direct  from  the  manufacturer.  Again  the  records  of  the  whole- 
sale houses  are  apt  to  be  in  error.  For  instance  a clerk  in  a drug  store 
at  (XI 12)  West  22nd  street  turned  in  an  order  for  one  ounce  of 
cocaine  and  asked  for  three  ounces,  which  were  given  him.  The 
records  show  he  ordered  one  ounce.  This  is  often  done. 

It  appears  that  prostitutes  use  little  cocaine  as  compared  with  the 
amount  of  morphine  they  consume. 


TYPICAL  CASES. 

There  are  four  druggists  whose  method  of  catering  to  the  pros- 
titutes is  to  send  clerks  to  their  respective  customers  in  the  various 
houses  of  prostitution  to  solicit  orders,  including  cocaine  and  mor- 
phine. 

(XI 13)  makes  up  one  ounce  vials  of  cocaine  in  one  per  cent, 
solution  which  he  sells  under  great  secrecy.  He  caters  to  the 
(XI 14),  (XI 15)  avenue,  where  Wo  prostitutes  named  Blanche 
and  Alice  order  on  an  average  of  500  tablets  a week  of  morphine 
sulphate,  using  a hypodermic  syringe  and  injecting  the  drug.  He 
also  caters  to  a house  operated  by  madame  (XI 16),  (XI 17)  ave- 
nue, where  Florence,  a prostitute,  uses  on  an  average  thirteen 
grains  of  morphine  and  cocaine  interchangeably  every  day. 

At  the  (XI 18),  (XI 19)  Dearborn  street,  Violet  and  Bebe  have 
been  buying  morphine  in  large  quantities  from  (X120).  He  also 
supplies  cocaine  to  Rosie  (X121)  avenue.  He  carries  a large  stock 
of  hypodermic  syringes  which  he  sells  to  habitues,  and  prostitutes 
known  to  him  are  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  store,  stepping 
behind  the  counter  and  obtaining  morphine  and  cocaine  without 
any  record  being  kept. 

The  (X122)  Drug  Store,  (X123)  21st  street,  also  has  a clerk 
soliciting  orders  in  a similar  manner.  In  (X124)  avenue,  known 
as  (X125),  practically  every  girl  in  the  house  uses  cocaine  or 
morphine  which  was  introduced  by  a prostitute  named  Sadie 
(X126),  who  originally  purchased  the  drug  at  the  (X127)  Drug 
Store  and  who  now  caters  to  their  trade. 

(X128),  corner  of  (X129)  and  (X130),  have  a boy  called 
(X130a)  who  solicits  orders  in  a like  manner  from  a number  of 
the  larger  houses,  and  procures  orders  for  as  much  as  one  ounce 
of  cocaine  and  ten  ounces  of  morphine  a day. 


86 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Such  drug  stores  as  (X131)  Pharmacy,  (X131a),  and  (X132) 
street,  and  (X133)  Dearborn  street,  have  boys  who  solicit  from 
the  various  houses. 

Many  prescription  blanks  have  been  presented  to  the  drug  stores 
in  that  locality  bearing  the  name  of  Dr.  (X136),  (X137)  street.  Upon 
investigation  it  was  found  that  this  was  a fictitious  name,  and  that 
these  prescriptions  were  for  the  most  part  incorrectly  written.  Never- 
theless they  were  filled  by  druggists  in  that  vicinity. 

The  physician,  the  most  important  element  in  the  sale  of  cocaine, 
disobeys  the  law  more  openly  than  the  druggist.  It  has  been  claimed 
that  practically  all  physicians  who  examine  inmates  in  houses  dispense 
cocaine  and  morphine. 

Dr.  (X138),  (X139)  State  street,  while  treating  a girl  at 
(X140)  Dearborn  street,  accustomed  her  to  the  use  of  mor- 
phine and  cocaine.  He  still  continues  to  furnish  her  with  pre- 
scriptions for  these  drugs.  There  are  at  present  two  girls  at 
(X141)  avenue  who  also  secure  morphine  and  cocaine  through 
Dr.  (X138). 

Dr.  (X143),  (X144),  is  the  examining  physician  in  a house  of 
ill  fame.  Many  of  the  inmates  claim  to  secure  their  drugs  from 
him. 

Investigator  claims  to  have  seen  many  prescriptions  of  Dr. 
(X145),  (X146)  State  street,  calling  for  cocaine. 

It  is  well  known  by  inmates  that  a physician,  (X147),  (X148) 
22nd  street,  will  for  the  price  of  $1.00  administer  a hypodermic 
injection  of  cocaine.  On  or  about  March  15,  1910,  a cocaine 
victim  called  (X149),  an  actor,  visited  Dr.  (XI 50)  and  secured 
from  him  six  prescriptions  for  cocaine  for  $6.00. 

During  the  first  two  weeks  of  September,  1910.  Sadie  (X151), 
an  inmate  at  (XI 52)  avenue,  a house  owned  by  (XI 53),  was 
rooming  at  (XI 54)  South  State  street  with  another  inmate  who 
is  a street  solicitor  named  “Tantine.”  Tantine  has  in  her  pos- 
session a complete  hop  layout,  and  was  teaching  Sadie  how  to 
smoke  opium.  They  are  not  living  together  now.  Sadie  has 
discontinued  the  practice.  She  informed  investigator  that  Tan- 
tine purchased  opium  in  a playing  card  which  was  bent  in  half 
with  a wad  of  opium  stuck  in  the  inside  like  an  ordinary  piece  of 
chewing  gum.  She  purchased  the  opium  in  this  form  at  (X155) 
drug  store,  (X156)  street,  and  (Xi57).  She  also  purchased  it 
from  Chinamen,  who  sold  it  put  up  in  the  following  form.  An 
ordinary  Chinese  nut  is  cut  in  half,  the  kernel  being  removed,  the 
hollow  shell  is  then  filled  with  opium,  and  the  two  parts  of  the 
shell  are  glued  together.  It  is  then  sold  in  this  manner,  which 
makes  it  very  difficult  to  detect  from  the  ordinary  nut.  She 
said  she  was  in  two  places  with  Tantine  where  she  had  purchased 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


87 


it  in  that  form,  both  being  on  Clark  street  near  Harrison.  She 
does  not  know  the  exact  number. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  year  1909,  Sadie  (X151)  roomed 
with  an  immoral  woman  called  “Carmen”  who  also  solicited  at 
(X159)  avenue  and  purchased  cocaine  from  (X160).  She  had  a 
little  box  which  was  used  for  cocaine  only.  Sadie  further  states 
that  she  is  acquainted  with  a young  man  whose  name  she  does  not 
remember,  who  comes  into  the  house  to  see  her  quite  often.  This 
man  is  the  owner  of  an  opium  den  on  (X161)  street.  He  has  in- 
vited her  down  there  at  various  times,  but  she  does  not  like  the 
idea  of  going  alone.  (X162)  of  (X163)  drug  store  secures  her 
orders  for  drugs  now.  She  says  (X164)  is  an  old  friend  of  hers, 
and  formerly  supplied  her  with  morphine  tablets,  but  she  does  not 
use  any  at  present. 

XIII.  Owners  and  Real  Estate  Agents.  The  court  records  show 
that  practically  no  effort  has  been  made  during  the  past  three  years  to 
prosecute  owners  and  real  estate  agents  who  are  leasing  and  renting 
property  for  immoral  purposes.  The  law  affecting  these  persons  is  a 
dead  letter. 

The  reasons  for  this  are  very  apparent,  first,  the  indifference  of 
the  public,  and  second,  but  perhaps  the  most  vital,  is  because  such 
property  brings  an  exorbitant  rate  of  interest  on  the  capital  in- 
vested. 

These  artificial  values  in  the  last  analysis  are  the  basis  of  a great 
many  difficulties  in  connection  with  the  problem  of  the  social  evil.  It 
was  shown  that  the  main  reason  why  it  is  so  difficult  to  suppress 
prostitution  in  connection  with  saloons  was  because  of  the  enormous 
profits  which  are  made  from  drinks  in  the  rear  roomg  and  from  the 
rental  of  rooms  over  the  saloon.  The  same  argument  applies  to  as- 
signation hotels. 

This  difficulty  is  very  apparent  when  entire  houses  or  apartments 
are  rented  outright  for  this  purpose.  On  the  West  Side  there  are  a 
number  of  properties  which  are  practically  worthless  for  legitimate 
purposes.  A business  man  endeavored  to  buy  a lot  on  which  was 
erected  a frame  building,  which  was  being  used  as  a house  of  ill  fame. 
The  lot  is  90  feet  and  the  owner  was  offered  $36,000.00,  or  $400.00 
per  front  foot.  He  declined  to  sell,  saying  that  he  was  securing  an 
income  on  a value  of  $700.00  per  front  foot,  and  that  he  would  not 
sell  even  for  that  amount. 

^See  Chapter  II,  “ The  Social  Evil  and  the  Saloon.” 


88 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


In  another  instance  a lot  was  held  for  $450.00  per  front  foot,  when 
its  legitimate  value  was  only  $350.00. 

In  still  another  case  a lot  was  held  for  $850.00  per  front  foot  when 
its  appraised  value  by  an  expert  for  legitimate  purposes  was  only 
$500.00. 

The  amazing  part  of  the  whole  matter  is  that  while  these  properties 
are  so  valuable  to  the  owner,  the  taxes  on  them  are  practically  noth- 
ing in  comparison.  The  assessments  are  on  a legitimate  basis. 

There  is  another  side  of  the  story  also.  While  these  properties  are 
increasing  in  value,  without  a cent  of  expense  on  the  part  of  the 
owner  in  improvements,  the  property  in  the  neighborhood  is  decreasing, 
or  at  a standstill. 

The  Commission  has  secured  a large  list  of  owners  of  houses  where 
prostitution  is  openly  practiced.  In  some  instances  these  owners  are 
vile  and  abandoned  men  who  make  a business  of  exploiting  these  Un- 
fortunate women.  And  side  by  side  with  these  men,  ignorant  and  vile, 
stand  so-called  respectable  citizens  who  are  also  sharing  in  the  in- 
creased values  from  property  used  to  extend  the  business  of  prostitu- 
tion. Indeed  evidence  has  been  produced  tending  to  show  that  a highly 
honored  and  respectable  company,  in  whose  hands  respectable  citizens 
entrust  their  money,  has  apparently  assumed  the  trusteeship  of  four 
of  the  vilest  houses  of  ill-fame  in  the  22nd  street  restricted  district. 

Another  disgraceful  fact  is  that  some  ostensibly  respectable  women 
are  owners  or  have  control  of  property  where  prostitution  is  practiced. 

Again  several  wealthy  and  prominent  business  men,  whose  advice 
is  sought  in  matters  pertaining  to  the  civic  welfare  and  development 
of  Chicago,  are  leasing  their  houses  on  (X164a)  street  and  (X164b) 
avenue  for  this  business.  One  of  these  men  has  six  houses  in  a part 
of  the  district  where  the  most  disgusting  and  flagrant  violations  of  the 
law  and  police  rules  occur.  Young  men  hardly  out  of  their  teens  have 
been  seen  reeling  in  an  intoxicated  condition  from  one  of  these  houses 
to  the  other.  One  Saturday  night  it  was  all  one  offlcer  could  do  to 
keep  a crowd  of  drunken  young  men  moving  and  prevent  fights  on  the 
streets.  In  one  instance  he  brutally  kicked  a young  fellow  and  shoved 
him  into  the  street.  In  another  instance,  at  the  request  of  the  keeper 
of  one  of  these  low  resorts,  the  offlcer  entered  her  house  and  threw  a 
drunken  young  man  out  on  the  street,  menacing  him  with  his  club. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


89 


A field  investigation  was  made  in  order  to  determine  the  ease  with 
which  flats  and  houses  can  be  leased  from  real  estate  agents  for 
immoral  purposes.  During  the  month  of  October  investigator  visited 
65  real  estate  agents  and  owners,  most  of  whom  were  located  in  res- 
idential sections  of  the  city,  and  in  44  instances  they  offered  to  rent 
rooms  and  flats.  In  each  instance  the  investigator  stated  she  wanted 
to  rent  the  premises  for  a “sporting  house.” 


TYPICAL  INSTANCES. 


South  Side. — Of  the  22  real  estate  owners  and  agents  visited  on  the 
South  Side,  15  were  willing  to  rent  flats  or  houses  for  immoral  pur- 
poses. Among  these  were  the  following: 

Mr.  (X165),  said  to  be  agent  or  owner  of  flat  building  from 
(X166)  to  (X167)  Wabash  avenue.  He  offered  to  rent  a five 
room  flat  on  the  third  floor  of  one  of  these  buildings  for  $35.00 
per  month.  The  applicant  could  have  same  for  two  months,  rent 
in  advance,  if  she  behaved  herself  and  did  not  play  the  piano  after 
11 : 00  P.  M.  She  must  be  careful  whom  she  let  in  and  to  whom 
she  sold  beer. 

Mr.  (X165)  said  it  was  not  necessary  to  “stand  in”  with  the 
officer  on  the  beat,  but  must  be  with  the  “higher  ups.” 

(X169)  Wabash  avenue.  Janitor  told  investigator  that  she  might 
be  able  to  sublet  a flat  in  this  building.  The  agent  was  (X170). 
One  office  being  at  (X171)  East  47th  street.  This  firm  also  rents 
the  (X172)  flats  at  (X173)  East  21st  street.  There  are  18  im- 
moral flats  in  this  building. 

(X174)  East  23rd  street.  Janitor  showed  investigator  a flat 
of  six  rooms  for  $37.50  per  month.  (X175)  in  a saloon  nearby, 
rented  the  flats.  The  owner  was  an  old  man  who  was  away  much 
of  the  time.  Could  do  anything  in  this  place,  but  must  be  quiet. 

(X176),  (X177)  Wabash  avenue.  One  of  the  aldermen  of  the 
(X176)  ward.  (X179)  showed  investigator  a flat  at  (X180) 
22nd  street,  rent  $35.00  per  month.  It  was  a very  dirty  place. 
The  agent  said  she  could  do  as  she  pleased  in  this  flat. 

West  Side. — Of  the  11  real  estate  agents  visited  on  the  West  Side, 
eight  were  willing  to  rent  flats  or  houses  for  immoral  purposes. 

(X181),  (X182),  West  Madison  street.  Agent  said  he  was 
sure  the  landlord  would  rent  a flat  at  (X183)  West  Van  Buren 
street  for  $25.00  or  at  (X184)  Honore  street  for  $22.50  for  that 
purpose.  Was  not  sure  about  (X185)  West  Madison  street. 


90 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(X186),  (X187)  West  Madison  street.  Agent  tried  to  induce 
investigator  to  buy  a house.  He  had  just  the  thing  and  would 
divide  the  commission  with  her.  The  house  he  mentioned  was 
(X188)  West  Monroe,  price  $7,500.00.  He  had  another  place  at 
the  corner  of  (X189)  terrace,  southwest  corner  (X190)  street, 
$60.00  per  month.  Advised  investigator  to  go  and  see  the  house, 
declaring  she  could  make  a “pile  of  money”  if  house  was  run  right 
and  quiet.  “ Then,”  he  added,  “we  can  help  you.” 

(X191),  (X192)  West  Madison  street.  Agent  offered  to  rent 
flats  at  (X193)  West  Madison  street,  2nd  flat  $40.00,  3rd  flat 
$40.00,  very  poor,  no  heat.  (X194)  West  Madison  street,  2nd 
flat  $40.00.  He  said  she  would  have  to  see  the  lieutenant  of 
(X195)  station  before  renting  any  of  these  places  and  fix  it  up 
with  him.  He  then  told  investigator  to  go  to  (X196),  (X197) 
West  Madison  street  and  talk  with  her.  This  womhn  conducts  a 
disorderly  house  at  this  address,  which  is  on  the  police  list.  She 
has  one  inmate.  She  told  investigator  that  she  did  not  sell  liquor. 

North  Side. — Of  the  12  real  estate  agents  visited  on  the  North  Side, 
10  were  willing  to  rent  flats  or  houses  for  immoral  purposes. 

(X200),  (X201)  North  Clark  street.  Agent  offered  to  rent 
house,  seven  rooms,  at  (X202)  Roscoe  street  for  $47.50  for  im- 
moral purposes. 

(X203),  (X204)  North  Clark  street.  Agent  gave  the  following 
addresses:  (X205)  Roscoe  street,  $45.00 ; (X206)  Evanston  ave- 
nue, $65.00,  and  (X207)  Roscoe  street,  $50.00.  All  of  these  are 
houses.  The  agent  cautioned  the  investigator  not  to  tell  the  land- 
lord what  the  house  was  to  be  used  for. 

(X208),  (X209)  Lincoln  avenue.  Had  one  flat  he  could  rent 
for  immoral  purposes,  at  (X210)  Fremont  street,  2nd  flat,  eight 
rooms,  steam  heat,  $40.00. 

(X211),  (X212)  Lincoln  avenue.  Agent  submitted  the  follow- 
ing for  immoral  purposes : 

(X213)  Seminary  avenue,  $33.00. 

(X214)  Newport  avenue.  $32.00. 

(X215),  (X216)  submitted  the  following  for  immoral  purposes: 

(X217)  Sheffield  avenue,  $35.00. 

(X218)  Early  avenue,  $33.00. 

(X219)  Southport  avenue,  $45.00. 

(X220),  (X221)  North  Clark  street.  Agent  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing places  which  could  be  rented  for  immoral  purposes: 

(X222)  Briar  place,  7 rooms,  $35.00. 

(X223)  Oakdale  avenue,  8 rooms,  $45.00. 

(X224)  Oakdale  avenue,  9 rooms,  $47.50. 

(X225)  Barry  avenue,  8 rooms,  $37.50. 

(X226)  Barry  avenue,  7 rooms,  $35.00. 

Mr.  (X227)  accompanied  investigator  to  (X222)  Briar  place, 
and  said  they  needed  a good  house  out  there.  He  said  he  knew 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


91 


of  a woman  on  Wilson  avenue  who  had  a place  and  a list  of 
married  women  she  called  in  when  necessary.  He  offered  to  do 
all  he  could  to  help  investigator  to  secure  a good  business  and 
put  her  “on  to”  a man  who  would  send  all  the  women  she  needed. 

The  Loop. — Of  the  11  real  estate  agents  visited,  eight  offered  to  rent 
flats  or  houses  for  immoral  purposes  or  said  they  did  do  such  business. 

(X229),  (X230)  Washington  street  gave  the  following  ad- 
dresses and  said  they  might  have  something  by  December  1st; 

(X231)  Calumet  avenue,  1st  flat,  $32.00. 

(X232)  Calumet  avenue,  $35.00. 

(X233);  room  (X234),  (X235)  Dearborn  street  submitted 
(X236)  Ellis  avenue,  nine  rooms.  Offered  to  show  place,  after 
he  had  seen  the  owner.  Asked  how  many  inmates  she  would  have. 

(X237),  room  (X238),  (X239)  Washington  street  submitted 
(X240)  Michigan  avenue.  Rent,  $50.00,  which  he  said  would  be 
vacant  in  about  one  month.  Advised  seeing  the  janitor,  Mr. 
(X241). 

(X242),  (X243)  Dearborn  street.  Investigator  spoke  to  Mr. 
(X242).  He  said  he  had  nothing  in  that  line  except  in  the  very 
cheapest  neighborhoods. 

XIV.  Street  Solicitation.  It  is  only  fair  to  say  that  the  conditions 
on  the  streets  in  the  downtown  business  district  at  present  are  much 
better  than  they  have  been  in  many  years  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  This 
improvement  has  been  gradual  during  the  past  three  or  four  years. 
It  seems,  however,  that  the  policy  of  restriction  has  been  carried  out 
in  regard  to  street  walking  in  much  the  same  way  as  to  houses.  While 
street  solicitors  have  been  seen  in  respectable  residential  sections,  the 
most  flagrant  violations  occur  in  certain  districts  of  the  city,  and  on 
certain  streets.  Roughly  speaking  these  sections  and  streets  are  as 
follows : 

The  downtown  business  district,  on  such  streets  as  Wabash  (south 
from  Van  Buren)  to  Peck  court,  from  thence  to  State  street,  the  side 
streets,  and  on  State  to  Van  Buren. 

In  vicinity  of  the  22d  street  restricted  district,  and  as  far  south  as 
63d  street. 

On  the  North  Side  from  the  river  on  Clark  and  the  side  streets,  west 
of  State  to  Chicago  avenue,  and  even  beyond. 

On  the  West  Side,  on  such  streets  as  Madison,  Halsted,  Green, 
Peoria,  Sangamon. 

The  following  extract  from  a report  made  by  a missionary  worker 
gives  her  impression  of  conditions  on  the  North  Side : 


92 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


“From  the  river  to  Chicago  avenue,  including  Wells,  LaSalle 
and  Clark  streets  are  certainly  growing  worse  very  fast.  It  is 
simply  alarming.  Dearborn  avenue  and  North  Clark  street  are 
fast  becoming  a red  light  district.  I have  worked  in  all  these 
places,  and  can  speak  from  deep  experience.  It  is  going  farther 
north  all  the  time,  even  as  far  as  North  avenue.  On  all  the  cross 
streets,  from  the  river  to  Chicago  avenue,  one  can  see  soliciting 
going  on  almlost  any  time  of  night.” 

This  conclusion  has  been  verified  by  the  field  investigation.  One 
worker  who  has  covered  the  North  Side  from  the  river  to  Chicago 
avenue.  State,  Wells  and  Clark,  and  all  intersecting  streets,  three  dif- 
ferent times  in  as  many  years,  declares  that  conditions  are  worse  in 
that  section  than  they  were  three  years  ago.  Prostitutes  are  soliciting 
on  practically  all  of  these  streets.  For  instance,  on  North  State  street, 
from  Michigan  to  Chicago  avenue;  on  North  Clark  the  women  walk 
from  Kinzie  as  far  as  North  avenue,  and  openly  solicit  in  front  of 
rooming  houses,  and  entrances  to  hotels.  On  LaSalle  avenue,  from 
Michigan  street  to  Chicago  avenue,  the  same  conditions  exist. 

Again  on  Wells  street,  girls  from  the  rear  rooms  of  saloons  en- 
deavor to  entice  men  to  go  to  rooms  over  saloons,  or  to  the  rear  rooms 
for  drinks.  On  Indiana  from  Wells  to  Clark,  Erie  street,  from  Wells 
to  State,  Ohio  from  Wells  to  State,  Huron  from  Wells  to  State, 
Ontario  from  Wells  to  State,  street  solicitation  prevails. 

There  are  two  classes  of  prostitutes  on  the  streets,  professional  and 
semi-professional.  By  the  latter  is  meant  girls  who  are  employed  dur- 
ing the  day,  and  use  this  method  of  finding  excitement  or  increasing 
their  income.  The  ages  of  these  girls  range  from  16  to  21,  and  they 
work  in  department  stores,  factories,  as  domestic  servants,  as  wait- 
resses, as  stenographers,  and  in  other  occupations. 

The  following  typical  cases  illustrate  the  foregoing  statements : 

North  Side— Carmen  solicited  on  North  Clark  street  near  Divi- 
sion. She  did  not  appear  to  be  over  18  years  of  age,  was  timid 
and  seemed  afraid.  Lives  on  LaSalle  avenue.  Works  downtown. 
Takes  men  to  hotel  on  West  Erie  street. 

Lucille  solicited  on  street.  Lives  on  Dearborn  avenue.  Will  go 
to  any  hotel.  Frequents  buffet  on  North  Clark  street.  Lucille 
is  about  20  years  of  age.  Coarse  and  ignorant. 

Flossie  solicited  on  corner  of  Ohio  and  Clark  streets  to  go  to 
hotel  over  saloon  on  North  Clark  street. 

November  15th  investigator  was  solicited  by  nine  different  street 
walkers  on  the  corner  of  Michigan  and  North  Clark  streets  from 
8:55  to  9: 15  P.  M. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


93 


All  of  the  women  invited  him  to  a hotel  on  North  Clark 
street.  This  hotel  has  an  entrance  from  the  back  room  of  a 
saloon  on  North  Clark  street. 

The  price  asked  by  the  women  was  $1.00  and  50  cents  for  the 
room. 

10 ; 30  until  1:30  P.  M.  saw  four  different  girls  soliciting  on 
North  Clark  street,  from  Ohio  to  Indiana. 

Violet  solicited  five  men  from  Indiana  to  Illinois  on  North  Clark 
street  from  8 : 30  to  9 : 00  P.  M. 

Bete  solicited  in  front  <7f  palm  garden  on  North  avenue;  said 
her  father  worked  for  the  street  department,  and  don’t  give  her 
any  money  or  clothes.  She  goes  with  fellows  for  50  cents ; knows 
of  no  place  to  go  except  up  the  track  near  Division  street.  She 
said  she  was  17  years  old.  ' Speaks  poor  English.  Has  been  in 
country  five  years. 

1 : 30  to  2 : 00  A.  M.  Nine  girls  soliciting  from  Erie  to  Huron. 

10:00  to  10:30  P.  M.  Seven  girls  soliciting  on  North  Clark 
from  Huron  to  Erie. 

8:00  to  9:00  P.  M.  Four  girls  soliciting  on  Ohio  from  North 
Clark  to  LaSalle  avenue. 

9 : 00  to  10 : 00  P.  M.  Ten  girls  on  North  Clark  street  from  On- 
tario to  Ohio  streets. 

After  10:00  P.  M.  Five  girls  on  Ontario  from  North  Clark 
to  LaSalle  avenue. 

September  9th,  9 : 00  to  9 : 30  P.  M.'  Fourteen  girls  soliciting 
on  corner  of  Illinois  and  North  Clark. 

IVest  Side— October  13th.  Flossie,  21  years  of  age,  a waitress, 
solicited  on  corner  of  Ada  and  West  Madison  streets  to  go  to 
(X245)  West  Madison  street,  where  she  has  a room. 

Paulette  solicited  on  corner  of  Curtis  and  West  Madison  streets, 
is  22  years  old,  married.  “Hustles  ” to  support  two-year-old  baby. 
Said  she  could  get  a room  on  West  Madison  street. 

Mignon  solicited  on  street  to  go  to  hotel  on  West  Madison  street. 
Mignon  said  she  was  19  years  old. 

South  Side. — Investigator  was  solicited  on  Indiana  avenue  be- 
tween 42nd  and  43rd  streets  by  two  girls.  One  named  (X246), 
married  to  a traveling  salesman,  and  lives  on  (X247)  avenue, 
near  (X248)  street.  She  is  employed  during  the  day  in  the 
(X249)  building,  one  goes  out  at  night  “on  the  quiet.”  Will  not 
take  anyone  home,  but  will  go  to  hotels  or  assignation  houses.  The 
other  woman,  Rosie,  is  married  and  lives  in  Milwaukee,  \yhere 
she  lives  at  (X250)  Wells  street,  flat  (X251).  She  has  stored 
her  furniture  and  is  separated  from  her  husband.  Is  staying  on 
South  Park  avenue  for  a few  days.  Expects  to  visit  Mrs.  (X252), 
who  keeps  an  assignation  flat  at  (X253)  Indiana  avenue.  She 
expects  to  come  to  Chicago  to  live  and  open  a flat  of  her  own 
on  the  South  Side  as  soon  as  she  can  earn  sufficient  money.  Two 
or  three  of  her  men  friends  here  in  Chicago  have  offered  to  give 


94 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


her  $10.00  each  for  that  purpose.  She  has  a flat  in  view  and 
knows  where  she  can  secure  all  the  girls  she  needs  when  she  is 
ready  to  start. 

Solicited  by  girl  on  Jackson  and  LaSalle  street  at  12;  20  A.  M. 
Girl  gave  name  of  Jennie  and  invited  investigator  to  call  on  her 
at  flat  (X255),  31st  street.  Kept  by  Mrs.  (X256).  Says  Mrs. 
(X256)  receives  herself,  that  she  runs  a regular  assignation  place, 
can  have  liquor,  as  there  is  plenty  in  the  place.  Flat  is  over  the 
(X258)  cafe. 

Mariette  solicited  on  South  State  street.  Said  she  was  18  years 
old,  lives  at  home  and  “don’t  have  to  hustle.”  Frequents  saloon 
at  South  State  street. 

Sue  solicits  on  South  State  street  to  go  upstairs  over  saloon  at 
(X259)  South  .State  street. 

A plain  clothes  man  spoke  to  a woman  who  solicits  on  the 
street  in  the  22nd  street  district.  He  said,  “Well,  how  is  business 
tonight  ? ” 

“Bum,”  she  replied,  “I  haven’t  broken  my  luck  yet.” 

The  detective  then  walked  toward  22nd  street. 

On  January  3rd  24  houses  of  prostitution  were  closed  on  Sangamon, 
Green  and  Peoria  streets.  According  to  a police  report  there  were 
124  inmates  in  these  houses.  On  the  nights  of  January  21  and  22,  1911, 
an  investigator  was  solicited  by  48  different  women  on  Madison,  Hal- 
sted,  Sangamon,  Lake,  Peoria  and  Green  streets.  He  secured  the 
names  of  13  of  these  women,  and  they  correspond  with  the  names 
of  the  former  inmates  of  these  houses. 

West  Side. — During  period  of  15  minutes,  three  girls  solicited 
on  Adams  between  Morgan  and  Sangamon. 

During  period  of  15  minutes,  seven  girls  soliciting  on  Monroe 
from  Halsted  to  Peoria. 

10 : 30  P.  M.,  three  girls  soliciting  on  Monroe  between  Green  and 
Halsted. 

10:  30  to  11  P.  M.,  nine  girls  soliciting  on  Madison  street  from 
Sangamon  to  Morgan. 

Downtown,  South  to  East  22nd  Street. — 1 : 30  A.  M.  Clark 
street,  near  river.  Met  waitress  who  works  in  lunch  room,  said 
she  would  go  to  a room  from  7 A.  M.,  when  she  leaves  her  work, 
until  time  to  go  back  to  work. 

9 : 30  to  11 : 30  P.  M.  Investigator  was  solicited  by  14  different 
girls  in  the  vicinity  of  Wabash  avenue,  between  Van  Buren  and 
Congress.  Eight  solicited  for  a hotel  on  Wabash  avenue,  and  six 
for  hotel  on  State  street. 

10:  10  to  10:  50  P.  M.  Investigator  was  solicited  by  following 
women : 

(a)  Miss  (X259)  on  State  between  Jackson  and  Adams; 
would  go  to  any  hotel,  ’phone  (X260). 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


95 


(b)  Helene ; lives  on  South  Side,  would  go  to  any  hotel. 

(c)  Rosie,  corner  Congress  and  Wabash.  This  was  11:45 

P.  M. 

10:  10  to  10:50  P.  M.  Nine  girls  soliciting  on  Congress  be- 
tween Wabash  and  State.  Investigator  was  solicited  by  six  dif- 
ferent women.  Gave  names  as  Rose,  May,  Ruth,  Kate,  Grace, 
Ella.  Two  of  them  wanted  to  go  to  hotel  on  Wabash  avenue,  two 
to  hotel  on  State,  and  two  any  place  investigator  desired. 

Met  Bessie  on  Michigan  avenue.  She  is  19  years  of  age. 
Came  from  (X261),  Indiana,  about  three  months  ago.  Works 
in  restaurant  on  22nd  street.  Lives  in  rooming  house  on  Michigan 
avenue.  Is  not  a regular  prostitute,  goes  with  men  for  presents 
or  money.  Is  poorly  paid  at  restaurant.  Don’t  like  the  country, 
prefers  city  life.  Expects  to  move  to  a room  where  landlady 
has  promised  to  allow  her  to  do  as  she  pleases  about  bringing 
friends  to  her  room. 

South  Side  from  East  22nd  to  6^rd  Street. — 31st  and  Indiana 
avenue.  Lucille  lives  on  Prairie  avenue.  Fairly  well  educated. 
About  19  years ; would  go  to  hotel. 

On  Michigan  avenue  near  24th  street.  Carmen,  22  years  old, 
goes  to  hotel  on  Michigan  avenue,  lives  on  Michigan  avenue ; 
’phone  Calumet  (X262)  ; does  not  take  men  to  her  room. 

At  61st  street  and  Cottage  Grove  avenue.  Flossie  lives  with 
her  parents  on  West  (X263)  street.  About  21;  goes  to  hotel  on 
63rd  street. 

At  28th  street  and  Michigan  avenue.  Two  mulatto  girls,  one 
named  (X264),  about  22,  other  20,  neither  looks  over  18.  Both 
live  on  Wabash  avenue  in  rear  apartment  and  take  men  there. 

Southwest  Side. — Met  Lilly  in  front  of  a five  cent  theatre.  She 
is  a dressmaker’s  apprentice  and  receives  $3.50  per  week.  “Hus- 
tles” at  night.  Her  parents  are  dead.  Her  aunt  first  persuaded 
her  to  become  immoral.  Frequents  saloon  on  South  Halsted 
street. 

Paulette’s  parents  made  her  leave  home  because  she  went  out 
at  night.  She  says  she  is  “going  to  hell  proper”  now.  Is  18  years 
old.  Frequents  saloon  on  South  Halsted  street. 


THE  PROFITS  FROM  PROSTITUTION  IN  CHICAGO. 

That  the  profits  from  prostitution  are  enormous  is  well  known,  but 
until  certain  facts  are  known  and  studied,  no  clear  idea  can  be  obtained 
regarding  them.  When  two  or  three  of  the  principal  factors  are  ex- 
amined a flood  of  light  is  thrown  on  the  problem. 

The  police  list  of  disorderly  houses  and  flats  submitted  to  this  Com- 
mission gave  the  following ; 


96 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


' WEST  SIDE. 

s'/th  md  28th  Precincts. — These  precincts  contain  the  so-called  West 
Side  vice  district. 

Number  of  houses  38 

Nurrtber  of  inmates  in  these  houses  180 

Number  of  flats  93 

Number  of  inmates  and  keepers  in  these  flats  321 

Let  us  confine  the  present  inquiry  as  to  profit  to  two  factors,  viz., 
first,  that  from  increased  rent,  and  second,  from  fees  paid  to  the 
woman  for  the  rental  of  her  body. 

As  a preface  to  mathematical  statements,  and  to  show  that  the 
figures  given  are  ultra-conservative,  take  the  following  excerpts  from 
statements  given  in  conferences  before  the  Commission,  first  as  to 
profit's  from  rentals  of  houses  used  for  purposes  of  prostitution,  and 
second,  as  to  the  amount  made  by  the  individual  prostitute. 

(X265)  leases  a house  for  $50.00  per  month  in  a section  where  it 
would  be  impossible  to  sublet  to  respectable  parties  for  a legitimate 
increase  of  $75.00  per  month.  He  then  expends,  say  $200.00  in  par- 
titioning off  10  small  bed  rooms ; total  expense  so  far  $250.00. 

He  subleases  to  a landlady  for  $200.00  per  month,  and  she  often 
pays  a bonus  in  addition  to  the  $200.00. 

He  thus  gets  his  money  back  during  the  first  month’s  rental,  and  a 
profit  of  $150.00  that  month  and  every  month  thereafter, 

Mr.  (X266)  had  a certain  unoccupied  piece  of  property  on  (X266a) 
street  which  he  formerly  leased  for  $50.00  per  month.  He  rented  it 
for  $200.00  per  month  for  purposes  of  prostitution. 

A keeper  of  a house  of  ill-fame  stated  in  conference  that  she  paid 
$8,000.00  per  year  on  a 10-year  lease  for  the  house. 

Evidence  on  file  with  the  Commission  shows  largely  increased  rents, 
— sometimes  double — paid  for  flats  to  be  used  for  assignation  purposes. 

As  a typical  instance,  see  page  80,  under  heading  “Expense  of 
Conducting  the  Flat.”  Rent  $50 — legitimate  rent  $30.  Revenue, 
lowest  amount  taken  in — $165  per  month ; highest — $340  covering  a 
four  year  period.  She  had  two  inmates,  and  charged  $10  to  $15  per 
week  beard. 

The  prices  charged  were  $5,  $7  and  $10.  Rooms  were  also  rented 
for  assignation  purposes,  price  $2  for  a short  time,  and  $5  for  all 
night.  She  received  $2  for  every  $5  earned  by  the  inmates. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


97 


One  inmate,  Rose,  once  stayed  10  days  with  her,  and  earned  $50 
for  herself.  During  one  July,  Helen  earned  $156.  During  27  days  in 
August  she  earned  $171. 

“During  orwe  week  of  a celebration,  Edna  (X267),  who  has  three 
flats  at  (X268)  Wabash  avenue,  made  $700 — prices  $5,  $7  and  $10.” 

She  claims  to  make  $6,000  to  $7,000  per  year. 

INDIVIDUAL  PROFITS  OF  PROSTITUTES. 

The  universal  practice  is  that  the  “madame  takes  half.” 

If  the  profit,  therefore,  of  the  inmate  is  given  that  of  the  keeper 
is  known. 

One  madame  testified  before  the  Commission  that  in  a 50-cent  house 
on  the  West  Side,  she  with  one  girl  took  in  $175  to  $200  per  week. 
She  also  testified  that  she  herself  entertained  60  men  in  one  night  at 
50  cents  each. 

This  madame  is  supporting  members  of  her  family,  and  has  $7,000 
in  the  bank. 

Other  testiniony  shows  that  girls  are  not  encouraged  to  stay  in  these 
cheap  houses  who  do  not  turn  in  $25  per  week  at  least. 

Testimony  from  a keeper  and  inmates  shows  that  her  girls  earn 
from  $100  to  $400  a week,  and  in  one  or  two  cases  where  the  girl  is 
especially  attractive  and  “womanly”  even  $500  per  week.  This  keeper 
has  24  “boarders.” 

Investigator’s  report  gives  the  case  of  one  woman  who  had  con- 
ducted a flat  on  the  South  Side  in  the  residence  district  for  a few 
years,  who  had  made  enough  to  purchase  property  on  the  North  Side, 
and  “retire  from  business,”  and  another  who  proposed  to  retire,  and 
wanted  to  purchase  an  orange  grove. 

Inmates  of  other  houses  not  so  pretentious  ($2  and  $3  houses)  testi- 
fy to  making  $50  per  week  and  upwards. 

That  there  is  even  published  and  obtainable  data  to  prove  con- 
clusively the  conservatism  of  the  estimates  that  are  given  further  on, 
is  shown  by  the. two  following  instances: 

In  May,  1907,  Leona  Garrity,  keeper  of  a house  at  75  South  Peoria 
street,  was  arrested  on  the  charge  of  “allowing  an  unmarried  female 


98 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


under  18  years  of  age  to  live,  etc.,  in  a house  of  prostitution.”  The 
case  was  tried  by  a jury,  and  a verdict  of  guilty  returned,  and  appeal 
taken  to  the  Supreme  Court,  where  the  verdict  was  sustained. 

In  the  printed  abstract  of  record  filed  in  the  Supreme  Court  in  this 
case,  certain  pages  are  reproduced,  taken  from  a book  kept  by  the 
madame  of  the  house.  These  pages  give  the  record  of  the  inmates 
of  the  house  for  five  consecutive  days  in  May,  1907,  and  show  the 
number  of  men  received  by  each  inmate  each  day,  and  the  amount 
each  girl  received. 

The  price  for  “service”  in  this  house  was  50  cents.  It  is  shown  that 
six  regular  inmates  on  four  consecutive  days  received  394  men,  ar  av- 
erage of  between  65  and  66  per  day,  or  16  per  day  each,  and  were 
paid  a total  of  $98.50,  or  approximately  $4  per  day  each.  The  total 
weekly  receipts  therefore,  from  six  inmates  at  the  above  rate,  viz., 
sixteen  men  at  50  cents  each,  would  be  $336.  As  the  “madame’s  share” 
is  one-half,  her  total  weekly  profit  would  be  $168  or  $8,736  per 
year. 

The  record,  however,  of  two  of  the  six  inmates  who  worked  five 
consecutive  days  is  as  follows: 

Sun.  Mon.  Tues.  Wed.  Thur.  Total  Av. 


Kitty  : 


No.  of  men 

. . . . 24 

14 

12 

9 

17 

76 

15 

Florince; 

No.  of  men 

. . . . 20 

23 

21 

21 

45 

130 

25 

“Kitty”  therefore  averaged  a little  over  15  visitors  per  day,  and 
her  weekly  earnings  would  be  about  the  same  as  those  given  above. 

“Florince,”  however,  who  was  the  16-year-old  girl  of  the  case  in 
court,  on  one  day  received  45  men,  averaged  26  per  day,  and  uTis 
paid  $32.50  for  the  5 days,  or  at  the  rate  of  $45.50  per  week.  And, 
of  course,  “earned”  a similar  amount  for  the  keeper. 

The  total  amount  the  six  girls  received  for  the  five  days  was  $114 
(although  four  of  them  “worked”  only  four  days).  The  weekly 
profit  of  the  madame,  therefore,  from  these  six  inmates,  taking  this 
as  the  average  would  be  $159.60,  or  $8,299.20  per  annum.i 

It  should  be  remembered  that  this  house  was  one  of  the  lowest  and 
cheapest  sort,  a 50-cent  house. 


Exhibit  Q. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


99 


In  1908,  in  connection  with  the  arrest  of  the  keeper  of  a disorderly- 
house,  the  authorities  seized  his  books  and  papers.  Among  these  books 
was  one  giving  the  names  of  the  inmates,  and  amounts  turned  in  by 
them  each  day;  total  for  one  month  daily,  and  total  receipts  per 
month  for  22  consecutive  months.  These  records  were  held  as  part  of 
the  evidence  in  this  case,  and  are  given  below  in  detail.  (The  figures 
given  are  all  taken  from  the  records;  the  “averages”  and  other  analy- 
ses of  the  tables  are  ours.) 

The  price  for  service  in  this  house  was  $1. 

The  regular  number  of  inmates  of  this  house  was  18.  Sometimes 
there  were  a few  more  or  a few  less. 

Record  for  one  day  (March  14)  names  of  girls  and  amount  turned 
in  by  each : 


Carmen 

$36 

Blanch 

28 

Marcella 

37 

Martha 

25 

Jeannie 

16 

Lucille 

41 

Flossie 

23 

Lilly 

13 

Helene 

20 

Paulette 

14 

Mariette 

23 

Suzanne 

23 

Violette  ^ 

13 

Tantine 

24 

Mignon 

11 

Jennie 

16 

Bessie 

11 

Rosie 

10 

Alice 

20 

Marcette 

12 

Bete 

27 

Total  21  inmates 

$443 

Average 

$ 21. 

Average  profit  per  inmate  (1-2)  $10.05  per  day;  per  week  $70.35. 

Average  profit  per  inmate  for  keeper,  $10.05  per  day;  per  week, 
$70.35. 


100 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Daily  record  of  inmates  for  one  week,  March  7th  to  13th; 


7th 

8th 

9th 

10th 

11th 

12th 

13th 

$24 

$33 

$16 

$16 

$18 

$17 

$16 

40 

18 

22 

18 

14 

11 

20 

25 

19 

18 

7 

18 

14 

12 

20 

10 

14 

23 

4 

8 

10 

24 

22 

22 

9 

21 

16 

18 

20 

13 

21 

11 

7 

10 

5 

22 

13 

11 

14 

9 

12 

11 

9 

38 

11 

14 

12 

7 

13 

35 

25 

15 

4 

30 

14 

12 

26 

16 

7 

7 

7 

13 

19 

12 

25 

12 

5 

10 

16 

9 

16 

12 

9 

15 

7 

9 

9 

29 

10 

10 

23 

11 

4 

5 

15 

10 

8 

13 

10 

6 

4 

27 

11- 

11 

21 

10 

4 

7 

20 

10 

11 

2 

6 

3 

3 

16 

30 

5 ■ 

10 

9 

7 

13 

20 

10 

8 

6 

8 

13 

18 

7 

19 

4 

11 

11 

8 

$406 

$364 

$240 

$202 

$250 

$179 

$192 

Total  for  seven  days  $1,833 

Average  number  of  inmates  18 

Average  per  week  for  each  inmate  (^)  $50 

Average  per  week  from  each  inmate  for 

madame  $50 

Record  of  daily  receipts  from  inmates  for  one  month : 


2, 

$247 

12, 

$197 

22, 

$339 

3, 

228 

13, 

202 

23, 

214 

4, 

229 

14, 

500 

24, 

196 

5, 

206 

15, 

350 

25, 

257 

6, 

235 

16, 

233 

26, 

200 

7, 

419 

17, 

231 

27, 

233 

8, 

379 

18, 

226 

28, 

413 

9, 

255 

19, 

226 

29, 

357 

10, 

214 

20, 

246 

'30, 

220 

11, 

260 

21, 

420 

31, 

212 

Total  for  30  days  $8,144 

Average  number  of  inmates,  18 

Average  earnings  per  inmate  for  month  $220 
Average  earnings  per  inmate  for  week  55 

Average  earnings  for  keeper  for  month  (^)  $4,072 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


101 


Record  of  total  business  per  month  for  22  months  (August,  1906,  to 
June,  1908) : 

1906  1907  1908 


August  $6,526 

September  . . . .6,816 

October 7,221 

November  ....  7,074 
December  ....  7,790 
January  1907  . 7,294 

February 6,588 

March  8,226 


April  $8,180 

May  8,465 

June  8,613 

July  9,008 

August  10,061 

September  . . . 9,325 

October 9,109 

November  . . . 8,647 


December  . . . .$9,229 
January  1908  . 7,837 
February  ....  7,894 

March  8,494 

April  8,266 

May 8,936 


Total  for  22  months $179,599 

Average  per  month  8,164 

Average  earnings  of  inmates  (18)  per  week  (J^)  55 


With  these  facts  in  mind,  note  the  following  figures  confined  en- 
tirely to  “rent  of  house  and  body.” 


WEST  SIDE. 

Rent  of  Houses. — 38  houses  (from  police  list). 

Average  excess  profit  from  rental,  $1,000  per  year  to 

owner  or  lessor,  $ 38,000 

93  flats  (from  police  list). 

Average  excess  profit  from  rental,  $300  per  year,  to 

owner  or  lessor,  27,900 

180  inmates  of  houses  (from  police  list). 

Profit  of  $25  per  week;  aggregate  per  annum, 234,000 

Profit  of  $25  per  week  for  keeper  from  inmates, 234,000 

321  inmates  of  flats;  same  as  above  ($25  per  week) 

aggregate  per  annum,  417,300 

Keeper’s  profit  from  321  inmates, 417,300 


Total  West  Side $1,368,500 

SOUTH  CHICAGO. 

This  so-called  “ restricted  district  ” is  of  practically  the  same  char- 
acter as  that  of  the  West  Side. 

i^th  Precinct. — This  precinct  contains  the  South  Chicago  re- 
stricted district. 

25  houses  (from  police  list). 

Excess  profit  from  rentals,  $1,000  per  year  each  to 

owner  or  lessor, $ 25,000 

120  inmates,  profit  of  $25  per  week,  aggregate  per 

annum,  156,000 

Keeper’s  profit  from  120  inmates,  156,000 


Total  South  Chicago, 


$ 337,000 


102 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


SOUTH  SIDE. 

In  this  district,  while  the  excess  revenue  from  rentals  of  houses  and 
flats  must  be  very  largely  in  excess  of  that  on  either  the  West  Side 
or  South  Chicago,  the  same  amount  is  used  in  the  estimate  for  houses, 
or  $1,000  per  year,  and  $50  per  month  (or  $600  per  year)  for  flats 
instead  of  $300. 

The  weekly  average  profit  of  the  prostitute  in  this  district  is  esti- 
mated at  $50. 

2d,  and  4th  Precincts. South  Side  restricted  district.  119  houses 

(from  police  list)  : 


Average  excess  profit  of  $1,000  per  year  to  owner  or 

lessor,  $ 119,000 

686  inmates  of  houses  (from  police  list). 

Weekly  profit  of  $50  each,  aggregate  per  annum, 1,783,600 

Keeper’s  profits  from  686  inmates, 1,783,600 

143  flats  (from  police  list). 

Average  excess  profit  of  $600  per  year  to  owner  or 

lessor,  85,800 

277  inmates  of  flats  (from  police  list). 

Weekly  profit  at  $50  each,  aggregate  per  annum, 720,200 

Keeper’s  profit  from  277  inmates, 720,200 


Total  South  Side,  $5,212,400 


RECAPITULATION  OF  THREE  RESTRICTED  DISTRICTS  (HOUSES  AND 

FLATS  only). 

West  Side,  $1,368,500 

South  Chicago,  337,000 

South  Side,  5,212,400 

Total,  $6,917,900 

This  appalling  aggregate  covers  only  the  houses  and  flats  in  the 
three  so-called  restricted  districts. 

In  addition  to  these  houses  and  flats,  the  police  list  gives  17 
assignation  hotels  in  the  2d,  3d  and  4th  precincts,  having  1,086  rooms, 
and  6 in  the  27th  and  28th  precincts,  having  45  rooms.  These  rooms 
rent  for  from  25  cents  to  $2. 

Assuming  that  each  room  is  rented  only  once  each  night  at  an 
average  price  of  50  cents,  and  that  this  is  all  profit  (as  most  of  these 
rooms  are  rented  many  times  each  night,  and  many  of  them  for  higher 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


103 


prices)  the  sum  of  $206,407  must  be  added  to  the  above  aggregate 
for  rental  only  (for  the  West  Side  $8,212  and  for  the  South  Side 
$198,195).  Estimating  that  only  one  prostitute  entertains  once  each 
night  in  each  room  at  a price  of  $1,  the  “body  rental”  amounts  to 
$412,815.  (For  the  West  Side  $16,425  and  for  the  South  Side 
$396,390.)  It  is  an  ultra-conservative  assumption  that  considering 
the  total  business  done,  these  sums  may  be  called  “profits.”  To  con- 
clude with  the  police  list,  10  houses  with  26  inmates,  36  flats  with  73 
inmates  and  19  assignation  hotels  having  91  rooms  are  given  for  the 
38th  precinct.  North  Side. 

An  estimate  of  these  on  the  West  Side  basis,  given  below  (which  is 
entirely  too  low)  gives  an  additional  sum  of  $328,022.  (See  estimate 
in  final  table.) 

We  thus  have,  dealing  with  the  police  list  only  a grand  total  profit 
from  the  two  factors  n-ientioned,  from  tolerated  or  regidated  vice  in 
the  city  of  $7,865,144. 

And  even  this  is  not  all.  The  investigation  of  the  Commission, 
which  covered  only  a part  of  the  city,  showed  398  disorderly  saloons 
catering  to  immoral  women,  practically  assignation  rooms,  or  houses 
of  ill-fame,  in  which  928  prostitutes  were  seen;  it  showed  33  hotels 
over  saloons,  37  hotels  not  over  saloons,  82  rooms  over  saloons,  24 
houses  over  saloons,  and  60  rooms  not  over  saloons.  None  of  these 
saloons,  houses,  hotels  or  assignation  places  are  given  on  the  police 
list,  or  considered  in  the  above  statement. 

Estimating  on  the  lowest  basis  given  above  (and  omitting  entirely 
the  398  disorderly  saloons  and  the  928  prostitutes  seen  in  them),  a 
sum  amounting  to  $611,545  must  be  added,  considering  each  “hotel” 
as  a flat  with  two  inmates  only,  and  each  of  the  24  houses  as  having 
only  two.  The  final  sum  is  therefore  $8,476,689.00. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  vast  revenue  from  the  sale  of 
liquor  is  entirely  neglected  in  this  sum,  nor  are  any  of  the  lesser 
sources  of  profit  considered,  such  as  tips  given  to  the  girls  by  patrons 
(testimony  shows  this  amounts  to  $25  per  week  per  inmate  in  the  better 
houses)  nor  from  music,  or  the  large  sums  made  by  giving  indecent 
shows,  etc.  Nor  has  it  anything  to  do  with  the  matter  of  clandestine 
prostitution. 

In  the  above  estimates,  the  total  number  of  prostitutes  considered 


104 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


is  3,233.  This  figure  does  not  include  the  928  prostitutes  counted  in 
disorderly  saloons  mentioned,  but  only  inmates  of  houses,  flats  and 
rooms.  The  “per  capita”  annual  profit,  therefore  (from  rentals  of 
property  and  fees  paid  women)  of  this  business,  found  by  dividing 
the  aggregate  given  by  3,233,  is  approximately  $1,480.00. 

What  must  be  the  value  of  real  estate  and  property  where  such  possi- 
bilities of  revenues  are  found? 

Analyzing  further  the  figures  given,  omitting  the  first  factor  of 
rental  of  property  and  the  keeper’s  or  madame’s  share,  and  consid- 
ering only  the  aggregate  earnings  of  the  individual  prostitute  (amount- 
ing to  $4,167,531)  and  dividing  the  sum  by  3,233,  we  have  a “per 
capita”  earning  capacity  of  approximately  $1,300  per  annum,  or  $25 
per  week.  This  is  5 per  cent  on  $26,000.  The  average  wage  paid  in  a 
department  store  is  $6.00  per  week,  or  $300  per  year.  This  is  5 per 
cent  on  $6,000.  In  other  words,  a girl  represents  a capitalized  value 
of  $26,000  as  a professional  prostitute,  where  brains,  virtue  and  all 
other  good  things  are  “nil,”  or  more  than  four  times  as  much  as  she  is 
'worth,  as  a factor  in  the  industrial  and  social  economy,  where  brains, 
intelligence,  virtue  and  womanly  charm  should  be  worth  a premium. 

The  statements  were  made  above  that  the  “madame  gets  half,” 
and  that  even  in  the  cheap  houses  the  girl  who  cannot  turn  in  $25.00 
per  week  is  not  encouraged  to  remain.  As  has  been  shown,  the  aver- 
age weekly  earnings  (as  much  underestimated  as  the  above  figures 
certainly  are)  amount  to  that,  and  the  keeper’s  or  madame’s  share 
is  shown  to  amount  to  millions. 

Why  wonder  then  at  the  commercialization  of  prostitution,  or  at 
its  permanence?  A madame  with  10  girls  in  a house  has  a sure  revenue 
of  $250  per  week,  or  $13,000  per  year.  After  paying  her  exorbitant 
rent  of  $2,400  per  annum,  is  there  not  enough  left  for  “protection” 
and  graft  of  every  conceivable  description? 

The  reasons  for  the  statements  of  a keeper  that  she  pays  $8,000  per 
year  rent  for  a house  that  would  ordinarily  rent  for  less  than  $2,500, 
and  that  her  daily  expense  for  24  servants,  breakage  of  furniture, 
glassware,  etc.,  etc.,  is  $225,  are  easily  accounted  for,  when  compared 
with  the  accompanying  statement  that  “I  have  accommodations  for  24 
young  ladies,”  and  the  further  statements  both  from  her  and  the 
inmates,  that  the  “earnings”  are  from  $100  to  $500  per  week  per 
inmate,  and  remembering  that  the  “madame  gets  half.” 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


105 


Assuming  the  lowest  figure  with  24  girls  earning  $50  per  week, 
the  madame’s  share  is  $62,400. 

If,  however,  the  statement  of  daily  expense  amounting  to  $225  is 
correct,  this  must  be  too  low,  as  there  would  be  a deficit. 

On  the  basis  of  $100  per  week  for  each  inmate  as  the  madame’s 
share,  there  would  be  a profit  of  $42,675  per  year. 

These  figures  speak  for  themselves,  and  show  in  a startling  manner 
why  vice  exists  in  Chicago,  why  it  is  allowed  to  exist,  and  why  politics 
and  graft  are  inseparable  from  it  under  existing  conditions. 

The  rich  hoard  thus  offered  explains  the  reason  for  the  army  of 
cadets  and  thieves,  exploiters  and  scoundrels  who  live  on  the  earnings 
of  the  bodies  of  the  unfortunate  women,  who  are  led  to  believe  the 
life  is  “easy.”  It  also  accounts  for  the  commercial  interests  that  sup- 
port, bolster,  and  live  upon  it,  the  real  estate  owners,  and  agents,  the 
liquor  interests,  costumers,  furriers,  jewelers,  druggists,  doctors  and 
many  others  who  live  on  or  share  in  the  earnings  of  the  prostitute. 

The  girl  is  peculiarly  susceptible  to  all  forms  of  graft,  and  is  per- 
sistently grafted  upon  by  all.  Nobody  respects,  admires  or  loves  her; 
no  one  wants  her  but  for  one  purpose. 

Confined  as  in  a prison,  her  only  resource  is  in  “blowing  in  her 
easy  money”  for  what  she  can  get  to  make  the  hours  fly,  and  she  is 
an  easy  victim  to  each  and  every  grafter  who  gets  the  chance  to  prey 
upon  her.  It  is  the  ease  of  her  exploitation  that  largely  accounts  for 
the  so-called  commercialization  of  prostitution  and  its  perpetuation. 


106 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


RECAPITULATION  OF  ESTIMATES  GIVEN  ABOVE — ITEMIZED. 

From  Police  List — West  Side — Houses  and  Flats. 


Profits  of  owners  or  lessors, 

38  houses  at  $1,000  per  year  each,  . . .$  38,000 

93  flats  at  $300  per  year  each, 27,900 

$ 65,900 

Profits  of  inmates, 

180  inmates,  houses  at  $25  week, 234,000 

321  inmates,  flats  at  $25  week, 417,300 

Profits  of  keepers  or  madames, 

501  inmates,  houses  and  flats  at  $25 

week,  651,300 

1,302,600 

6 assignation  hotels. 

Profits  of  owners  or  lessors, 

45  rooms  at  $ .50  per  night, 8,212 

45  inmates  at  $1  per  night, 16,424 

24,636 


Total  West  Side,  $1,393,136 

SOUTH  CHICAGO. 

25  houses  at  $1,000  per  year  each,  . . .$  25,000 
Profits  of  inmates, 

120  at  $25  week  each, 156,000 

Profits  of  keepers  or  madames, 

120  inmates  at  $25  week  each,  156,000 


Total  South  Chicago, 337,000 

SOUTH  SIDE. 

Profits  of  owners  or  lessors, 

119  houses  at  $1,000  per  year  each,. . . .$  119,000 

143  flats  at  $600  per  year  each, 85,800 

204,800 

Profits  of  inmates, 

686  inmates  houses  $50  week,  1,783,600 

277  inmates  flats  at  $50  week, 720,200 

Profits  of  keepers  or  madames, 

963  inmates  at  $50  per  week, 2,503,800 

5,007,600 

Profits  of  owners  or  lessors, 

17  assignation  hotels,  1,086  rooms,  at 
50  cents  night,  198,195 


Profits  1,086  inmates  at  $1  per  night,  396,390 

594,585 


Total  South  Side, 


$5,806,985 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS  107 

NORTH  SIDE. 

Profits  of  owners  or  lessors, 

10  houses  at  $1,000  per  year  each,  . . . .$  10,000 

36  flats  at  $3C)0  per  year  each, 10,800 

$ 20,800 

Profits  of  inmates, 

26  inmates  houses  $25  week  each,  . . . 33,800 

73  inmates  flats  $25  week  each, 94,900 

Profits  of  keepers  or  madames, 

99  inmates,  houses  and  flats  $25  week,  128,700 
19  assignation  hotels. 

Profits  9 rooms  at  50c  per  night  each, 16,607 

Profits  91  inmates  at  $1  per  night  each,  . . . 33,215 


Total  North  Side,  $ 328,022 

Total  from  houses,  flats  and  as- 
signation hotels  given  in  police 
list,  $7,865,143 

PLACES  INVESTIGATED.  (nOT  ON  POLICE  LIST.) 

Profits  of  owners  or  lessors, 

70  hotels,  considered  as  flats,  $300  per 

year  each,  $ 21,000 

24  houses  $1,000  per  year  each, 24,000 

Profits  of  inmates,  these  houses  and  flats, 

188  at  $25  per  week  each, 244,400 

Profits  of  keepers  or  madames, 

188  inmates  at  $25  per  week  each,  . . . 244,400 
Profits  of  owners  or  lessors  of  142  rooms 

at  50c  per  night, 25,915 

Profits  142  inmates  of  these  rooms  at  $1  per 
night,  51,830 


Total,  not  on  police  list, 611,545 


Grand  total,  $8,476,688 


108 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Profit  from  the  Sale  of  Liquor  in  Connection  with  Prostitu- 
tion— Disorderly  Saloons. 

There  are  7,152  saloons  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  The  present  ratio 
of  saloons  to  population  is  1 to  about  300  people.  According  to  the 
testimony  before  the  Commission,  given  by  the  President  of  the  Brew- 
ers’ Exchange  and  the  representative  of  the  Retail  Liquor  Dealers’ 
Protective  Association,  it  will  be  20  to  25  years  before  any  new 
licenses  will  be  granted,  because  the  city  ordinances  provide  that  none 
shall  be  issued  until  the  ratio  of  saloons  to  population  shall  be  1 to  500. 
This  in  a measure  accounts  for  the  fact  that  saloon  licenses  that  cost 
$1,000  per  annum  are  now  worth  $2,000  to  $2,500,  are  rapidly  increas- 
ing in  value,  ^md  are  being  bought  up  whenever  possible  by  the  liquor 
interests. 

The  organizer  of  the  Liquor  Dealers’  Association  states  that  25  per 
cent,  of  the  saloon  keepers  in  the  city  go  out  of  business  every  six 
months.  On  the  face  of  it,  this  would  lead  to  the  belief  that  the  busi- 
ness was  unprofitable,  but  that  must  be  far  from  the  truth.  A license 
when  granted  is  not  restricted  as  to  locality  but  is  good  in  any  por- 
tion of  the  city;  neither  is  it  restricted  as  to  person,  but  is  valid  for 
whomsoever  owns  it.  These  two  latter  features  undoubtedly  account 
for  the  shifting  character  of  the  ownership.  At  any  rate,  the  number 
of  saloons  does  not  diminish  and  the  fact  that  it  does  not,  that  others 
are  not  only  always  ready  and  anxious  to  get  in,  but  are  willing  to 
pay  more  than  twice  the  cost  of  the  heavy  license,  proves  that  the  in- 
centive is  the  enormous  profit  that  can  be  made  under  existing  con- 
ditions. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  profits  of  an  orderly,  well  conducted 
saloon  under  proper  management,  are  large, — but  when  the  tremendous 
profit  made  by  the  disorderly  saloon  which  not  only  allows,  but  seeks 
the  aid  of  the  prostitute  as  an  adjunct  to  its  business  (and  is  permitted 
to  do  so)  is  considered,  further  light  is  thrown  upon  the  subject. 
These  saloons,  with  rear  rooms  frequented  by  prostitutes  soliciting 
men  to  buy  drinks  and  for  immoral  purposes,  either  directly  connected 
with  rooms  or  hotels  in  the  same  building,  or  indirectly  with  others 
in  the  near  vicinity  are  virtually  houses  of  prostitution,  and  the  nuclei 
of  vice,  the  places  where  many  take  the  initial  step,  and  on  the  other 
hand  the  business  headquarters  and  rendezvous  of  the  lowest  char- 
acters of  both  sexes. 


EXISTING  CON.DiTIONS 


109 


There  are  many  such  saloons  in  the  city.  The  investigation  covered 
445  (scattered  over  the  city).  In  236  of  these  investigator  was  so- 
licited, and  928  prostitutes  were  counted  in  them. 

In  considering  the  question  of  the  profits  made,  attention  should 
be  given  to  the  following  facts: 

The  usual  price  for  a pint  bottle  of  beer  (in  rear  room  of  saloon) 
is  25  cents. 

The  per  cent  of  gross  profit  to  the  saloon  keeper  is  178  per  cent., 
the  commission  being  included  in  the  cost.  When  sold  in  rooms  up- 
stairs the  prices  are  doubled  and  the  per  cent,  of  gross  profit  is  250 
per  cent. 

Counterfeit  mixed  drinks  for  the  women,  Manhattan  and  other  cock- 
tails, consisting  of  colored  water  and  a cherry,  sell  for  25  cents.  The 
per  cent  of  gross  profit  on  these  is  over  300  per  cent.,  and  much 
greater  when  sold  upstairs. 

In  the  majority  of  such  saloons,  prostitutes  are  not  only  permitted 
to  solicit,  but  are  paid  a commission  on  the  sale  of  drinks. 

A low  estimate  of  the  amount  earned  per  day  by  such  girl  sellers 
of  drinks  is  $3.00. 

The  average  number  of  girls  found  in  the  236  saloons  where  in- 
vestigator was  solicited  was  approximately  5. 

On  the  basis  of  only  200  per  cent,  profit,  which  eliminates  prac- 
tically everything  from  the  question  except  beer,  the  daily  net  profit 
from  5 girls  earning  $3.00  per  day  on  a 20  per  cent,  commission  would 
be  $50  or  $18,250  per  year. 

Assuming  that  the  236  disorderly  saloons  mentioned,  employed  only 
5 girls  each,  the  aggregate  profits  on  the  above  basis  would  be  $4,- 
307,000. 

Of  course,  there  are  many  more  such  saloons  than  those  investigated, 
and  the  average  number  of  girls  employed  must  be  much  more  than  5, 
but  even  on  this  conservative  basis,  the  total  figures  are  startling,  and 
; the  reason  why  such  saloons  are  allowed  to  exist  is  not  far  to  seek. 

i Another  big  source  of  profit  for  the  disorderly  saloon  is  from  the 
rental  of  rooms  for  assignation  purposes.  Small  bed  rooms,  directly 
connected  with  the  saloon  or  in  some  cases,  controlled  by  it,  are  fitted 


no 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


up  at  an  expense  of  not  to  exceed  $5  for  a bed,  2 chairs  and  a few 
towels.  These  rooms  are  rented  many  times  during  each  24  hours. 
The  average  price  for  such  rooms  is  50  cents.  From  5 rooms  of  this 
kind  rented  only  twice  a day  at  50  cents,  the  annual  revenue  amounts 
to  $1,825. 

Bearing  in  mind  that  these  enormous  revenues  are  only  “side  lines,” 
additions  to  the  natural  or  normal  business  of  the  saloon,  some  idea 
may  be  formed  as  to  the  value  of  the  business  of  prostitution  as  an 
adjunct,  and  as  to  the  difficulty  of  properly  regulating,  controlling  or 
suppressing  these  disorderly  places. 

Comparing  the  earnings  of  the  women  employed  in  this  manner — 
for  themselves,  and  for  those  who  hire  them — with  what  they  could 
make  as  employes  of  department  stores,  or  as  factory  hands,  some 
interesting  deductions  may  be  drawn. 

In  the  first  place,  most  of  these  women  or  girls  are  not  necessarily 
unintelligent,  but  certainly,  from  their  opportunity  and  environment 
since  birth,  uneducated,  unskilled  and  with  little  opportunity  or  possi- 
bility for  social  advancement  or  betterment. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  law  of  supply  and  demand  regulates 
the  price  of  such  labor  as  they  can  do,  rather  than  the  earning  capacity 
of  the  employe  for  the  employer,  the  average  wage  these  women  could 
expect  to  earn  in  the  ordinary  course  of  employment  is  $6.00  per  week, 
hardly  enough  to  support  life — certainly  not  enough  to  supply  even 
the  most  modest  and  natural  desire  of  a girl  for  dress  or  what  one 
“madame”  called  “fluffy  ruffles.”  Iii  other  words,  the  ^parent  “good 
things”  of  life,  which  she  sees  enjoyed  by  women  and  girls  all  around 
her,  as  matters  of  course.  Small  hope  for  advancement  or  better- 
ment, or  a home  of  her  own  or  of  earning  enough  for  a modest  outfit 
for  what  is  every  woman’s  natural  aim,  marriage. 

Her  “capitalized”  value  as  one  of  the  army  of  the  employed  is 
$6,000,  as  $6  per  week,  or  $300  per  year  is  5 per  cent  of  this  sum. 

Selling  drinks  for  a saloon  keeper  at  20  per  cent,  commission,  she 
earns  for  herself  $21  per  week,  as  a minimum,  or  $1,100  per  year. 
Her  capitalized  value  now,  as  such  agent,  based  on  her  earnings  is 
$22,000,  or  nearly  four  times  as  much  as  in  the  industrial  ranks,  and 
when  the  further  profits  from  the  rental  of  her  body  in  connection 
with  her  “business”  are  considered,  is  it  strange  that  the  life  appears 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


111 


to  her  “easy”  or  that  her  “reformation”  is  difficult,  or  that  it  is  difficult 
to  control  or  suppress  this  crying  evil  ? 

What  can  be  offered  to  such  women  to  replace  the  “luxury”  unat- 
tainable to  them  in  any  other  known  way,  but  made  possible  by  the 
life  they  are  almpst  inevitably  bound  to  follow,  and  why  wonder  at 
the  perpetuation  (in  spite  of  all  alleged  efforts  at  control)  of  the 
disorderly  saloon,  when  the  profits  these  women  make  for  the  saloon 
keepers  are  so  enormous  as  shown  by  the  above  facts? 

PROFITS  FROM  SALE  OF  LIQUOR  IN  HOUSES  OF  PROSTITUTION. 

The  following  facts  are  taken  from  statements  made  in  confer- 
ences before  the  Commission  with  madames  and  inmates,  and  from 
data  furnished  by  investigators. 

Beer  costing  four  cents  per  bottle  (pint)  is  sold  in  cheaper 
houses  for  25  cents,  in  more  expensive  houses  for  50  cents,  and 
though  quart  bottles  are  sold  for  double  prices,  often  a pint  bottle 
is  sold  for  $1.00. 

“Champagne”  so-called,  mostly  a very  cheap  quality,  costs  $12 
to  $16  per  dozen  bottles.  It  is  sold  in  the  cheaper  houses  for 
$3.00  per  bottle ; in  the  more  expensive  houses  for  $5.00  per 
bottle. 

One  madame  stated  that,  prior  to  May  1,  1910,  before  the  rule  pro- 
hibiting the  sale  of  liquor  in  the  houses  was  in  force,  she  “averaged 
on  beer  $1,200  to  $1,500  per  month.” 

Another  madame  of  “a  dollar”  house  stated,  “We  used  to  make  a 
good  deal  of  money  out  of  beer  and  liquor.  We  made  $2,000  a month. 
We  charged  50  cents  for  a bottle  of  beer  and  $3  for  champagne.  I 
now  lose  $1,000  and  my  partner  $1,000  a month.” 

A Dearborn  street  madame  said  that  where  she  formerly  (prior  to 
May  1,  1910)  paid  $500  per  month  rent,  she  now  paid  $250,  and  would 
gladly  pay  $500  if  permitted  to  sell  beer. 

Inmates,  according  to  a madame’s  statement,  formerly  made  $35  to 
$45  per  week  in  commissions  on  sale  of  beer  and  wine,  and  the  mad- 
ame who  testified  that  she  made  $1,200  to  $1,500  per  month  said, 
“The  girls  got  40  per  cent,  commission.”  As  she  had  ten  girls,  their 
earnings  on  that  basis  would  be  $12  to  $15  per  week  each. 

It  is  practically  impossible  to  make  definite  mathematical  state- 
ments regarding  the  aggregate  profit  of  this  business  in  the  three 


112 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


restricted  districts,  but  in  order  to  show  how  vast  it  rrwst  be,  assum- 
ing that  the  average  annual  profit  to  each  house  is  $5,000  and  for  each 
flat  $2,000,  and  $10  per  week  each  for  inmates  as  commission,  the  re- 
sult would  be  as  follows: 


From  Police  List. 


West  Side  Houses,  

38  at  $5,000 

$190,000 

West  Side  Flats, 

93 

2,000 

186,000 

West  Side  Inmates 

501 

520 

260,520 

South  Chicago  Houses 

25 

5,000 

125,000 

South  Chicago  Inmates 

120 

520 

62,400 

South  Side  Houses 

119 

5,000 

595,000 

South  Side  Flats  

143 

2,000 

286,000 

South  Side  Inmates 

963 

520 

500,760 

North  Side  Houses 

10 

5,000 

50,000 

North  Side  Assignation  Hotels 

19 

5,000 

95,000 

North  Side  Flats 

36 

2,000 

72,000 

North  Side  Inmates 

99 

520 

51,480 

Total  from  Houses,  Flats,  Assignation  Hotels  and  In- 

mates  given  in  police  list, 

$2,474,160 

Places  Investigated  not  on 

Police  List. 

70  Hotels 

5,000 

350,000 

24  Houses 

5,000 

120,000 

188  Inmates  of  these  Houses  and  Hotels  . . 

520 

97,760 

142  Inmates,  Rooms,  etc 

520 

73,840 

Total  not  on  police  list $ 641,600 

Total  on  police  list  $2,474,160 


Grand  total $2,915,760 

On  May  1,  1910,  the  rule  of  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police 
prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquor  in  houses  of  prostitution  went  into  effect. 

On  the  whole  it  has  been  fairly  well  obeyed.  No  liquor  is  openly 
sold  in  houses,  with  the  exception  of  the  most  famous  house  of  all, 
where  an  investigator  recently  purchased  a bottle  of  beer  and  one  of 
wine  in  the  same  unrestricted  way,  and  at  the  same  prices.  Other 
houses  on  the  same  street  sold  only  soft  drinks. 

As  to  the  benefit  derived  from  this  order,  either  to  the  inmates 
or  the  public,  opinions  differ.  Of  course,  the  keepers  and  madames 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


113 


protest.  Those  of  the  higher  priced  houses  admit  they  can  still  con- 
tinue in  business,  though  at  greatly  reduced  profits.  Others  claim 
their  business  is  ruined. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  business  of  the  saloons  in  these 
restricted  districts  has  enormously  increased.  The  madames  almost 
all  say  that  the  girls  are  drinking  more  than  before,  and  are  uneasy 
and  hard  to  control. 

Many  inmates  have  left  the  houses  and  now  live  in  flats,  where  they 
sell  liquor  under  a government  receipt,  secured  at  a cost  of  $25.00. 

“There  are  500  flats  opened  up  on  the  South  Side  since  May  1st.” 
An  inspector  states,  “There  are  360  flats  with  prostitution  on  Cottage 
Grove  avenue  and  all  over;  that  is  from  22nd  street,  south  and  east  of 
State  street.” 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  result  of  the  order  has  been  to 
scatter  prostitutes  over  a wider  territory  and  to  transfer  the  sale 
of  liquor  carried  on  heretofore  in  houses  to  the  nearby  saloon  keepers 
and  to  flats  and  residential  sections,  but  it  is  an  open  question  whether 
it  has  resulted  in  the  lessening  of  either  of  the  two  evils,  of  prostitution 
and  drink. 


Final  Recapitulation  of  Annual  Profits  from  the  Business  ok 
Prostitution  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Rentals  of  property  and  profits  of  Keepers  and  Inmates  . .$  8,476,689 

Sale  of  liquor,  disorderly  saloons  only 4,307,000 

Sale  of  liquor  in  houses,  flats,  and  profits  of  Inmates  on 
commissions  2,915,760 


$15,699,449 


114 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


AN  INQUIRY  INTO  THE  NUMBER  OF  PATRONS  OF  HOUSES  OF  PROSTITUTION 

IN  CHICAGO. 

The  enormous  aggregate  of  the  amount  spent  in  houses  of  prostitu- 
tion, as  shown  in  the  section  of  this  report  entitled  “The  Profits  from 
Prostitution  in  Chicago,”  naturally  suggests  the  inquiry — Who  are  the 
supporters  of  this  vice,  and  how  many  must  there  be  to  keep  it  up? 

Confining  the  inquiry  entirely  to  the  houses  given  in  the  police  list 
for  the  three  so-called  restricted  districts  and  the  North  Side,  and 
briefly  summarizing  some  of  the  facts  will  help  to  elucidate  this 
problem. 

Police  List. 


No.  of  inmates  in  38  houses.  West  Side 180 

No.  of  inmates  in  25  houses.  South  Chicago 120 

No.  of  inmates  in  119  houses.  South  Side 686 

No.  of  inmates  in  10  houses.  North  Side 26 


Total  number  of  inmates  1,012 


The  records  taken  from  the  books  of  a keeper  of  a 50  cent  house, 
with  six  regular  girls,  at  75  South  Peoria  street,  show  that  the  average 
number  of  men  per  day  for  each  inmate  was  15. 

The  records  taken  from  the  books  of  a $1.00  house  with  18  in- 
mates give  15  plus  per  day. 

The  madame  of  a $1.00  and  $5.00  house  with  18  to  20  inmates,  tes- 
tified in  a conference  with  the  Commission  as  follows : “We  receive 
from  300  to  400  men  per  night.”  This  also  shows  an  average  of  15 
plus  per  inmate  per  day. 

It  is  pretty  conclusively  proven,  therefore,  that  it  is  safe  to  assume 
that  number  as  a basis  for  purposes  of  this  estimate,  especially  when 
taken  in  connection  with  the  known  fact  that  girls  who  cannot  turn 
in  at  least  $25.00  per  week  in  the  cheapest  houses,  are  not  encouraged 
to  remain  in  them,  and  somewhat  more  than  15  visitors  per  day  at 
25  cents  each  is  requisite  to  produce  that  amount. 

On  this  assumption,  then,  the  figures  would  be  as  follows : 

Total  number  of  inmates  in  houses,  1,012. 

If  each  inmate  receives  15  men  per  day,  the  total  number  per  day 
would  be  15,180  or  5,540,700  per  anpum. 

The  population  of  Chicago  is  approximately  2,000,000.  On  the 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS 


115 


census  basis  of  estimate  there  are  approximately  400,CX)0  families. 
Assuming  that  there  are  two  males  (one  father  and  son)  in  each 
-family  who  may  be  considered  as  coming  within  the  scope  of  this 
inquiry  (or  800,000)  and  that  three-fourths  of  these  because  of  age, 
state  of  health,  poverty,  religious  influences  or  other  causes,  are  left 
out,  there  are  200,000  “eligible”  males  left — a number  wholly  inad- 
equate to  bear  the  burden  of  the  millions  (approximately  $5,400,000) 
of  estimated  expenditure  in  houses  of  prostitution  as  shown  in  the 
article  referred  to. 

(Note.  This  sum  of  $5,400,000  covers  only  the  receipts  of  in- 
mates and  keepers  from  patrons  for  services,  and  the  receipts  for  the 
sale  of  liquor  in  houses,  as  per  the  police  list,  and  leaves  out  of  the 
problem  the  receipts  from  all  sources  in  flats,  assignation  hotels, 
rooms  and  disorderly  saloons.) 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  bulk  of  support  comes  from  “The 
stranger  within  our  gates.” 

In  New  York  City  there  is  a daily  influx  of  over  150,000  strangers. 

If  we  assume  that  only  60,000  visitors  come  into  Chicago  every  day 
and  that  20,000  (or  one-third  of  these)  are  “eligible”  as  possible 
“patrons”  there  is  an  army  of  7,300,000  to  be  added  to  the  home  num- 
ber. 

The  men  from  other  towns  who  come  to  Chicago  “To  see  the 
sights.”  The  man  who  is  moral  (apparently)  in  St.  Louis  or  Cleve- 
land or  New  York  “relaxes”  in  Chicago.  Thousands  nightly  “go 
down  the  line”  here,  who  at  home  find  conditions  too  strict  to  even 
suggest  a “fling.” 

It  is  certainly  true  that  during  conventions  or  “Show”  occasions,  the 
business  of  the  restricted  districts  is  enormously  increased.  It  is  a 
conclusion  from  fact,  that  can  hardly  be  gotten  away  from,  that  the 
bulk  of  the  support  of  prostitution  in  the  better  houses  and  departments 
in  Chicago,  as  well  as  in  other  large  cities,  comes  from  the  outside — 
the  visitor — and  not  from  the  resident. 

In  considering  this  conclusion,  however,  two  facts  should  be  borne 
in  mind:  first,  that  the  above  estimate  is  restricted  entirely  to  the 
houses  given  in  the  police  list,  and  does  not  cover  prostitution  in  flats 
or  assignation  hotels  and  rooms,  or  that  due  to  the  disorderly  saloon ; 
neither  does  clandestine  prostitution  enter  into  it  at  all,  and,  second, 


116 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


the  numbers  given  for  patrons  are  “instances”  only,  and  not  separate 
patrons. 

As  to  the  first  of  these  two  facts,  it  is  p'erhaps  sufficient  to  say 
that  the  amount  estimated  for  the  houses  alone  is  but  one-third  of 
the  entire  total,  and  further,  that  from  the  known  facts  it  is  prob- 
able the  cheaper  houses  are  more  largely  supported  by  the  resident, 
and  the  more  expensive  or  “show”  places  and  the  better  apartments 
by  the  “visitor.” 

As  to  “instances,”  assuming  that  there  are  200,000  “residents”  who 
may  be  considered  as  supporters  of  this  vice,  it  would  be  necessary 
for  each  one  to  expend  approximately  $28  per  annum  to  make  up 
the  entire  sum  of  $5,400,000.  If  each  one  spent  $4  per  evening  on 
his  dissipation,  it  would  necessitate  his  making  7 visits  a year  to  houses 
of  prostitution. 

This  number  of  visits  by  each  would  take  care  of  the  matter 
without  any  reference  to  the  help  of  outsiders. 

And  thus  the  question  arises,  “How  immoral  is  the  average  man 
addicted  to  the  indulgence  in  vice?”  One  at  all  familiar  with  local 
conditions,  or  who  frequents  disorderly  saloons  or  restaurants  cater- 
ing to  the  “sporting  element,”  must  have  often  been  impressed  by  the 
fact  that  the  same  people  visit  the  same  places  night  after  night,  week 
in  and  week  out,  and  such  an  one  also  knows  that  there  are  apparently 
thousands  of  men  whose  whole  occupation  seems  to  be  the  haunting 
of  disorderly  or  immoral  places  and  the  so-called  “pursuit  of  pleas- 
ure,” and  others  who  devote  all  their  spare  time  and  means  to  it. 

These  suggestions  are  made  with  the  idea  of  showing  the  conserv’a- 
tism  and  reasonableness  of  the  appalling  sum  given  for  the  profits 
from  prostitution — a sum  which  to  one  unfamiliar  with  the  subject 
would  undoubtedly  seem  incredible. 


Chapter  IL 


The  Social  Evil  and 
the  Saloon. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON. 

In  the  Commission’s  consideration  and  investigation  of  the  Social 
Evil,  it  found  as  the  most  conspicuous  and  important  element  in  con- 
nection with  the  same,  next  to  the  house  of  prostitution  itself,  was 
the  saloon,  and  the  most  important  financial  interest,  next  to  the 
business  of  prostitution  was  the  liquor  interest.  As  a contributory 
influence  to  immorality  and  the  business  of  prostitution  there  is  no  in- 
terest so  dangerous  and  so  powerful  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  The 
Brewery  Companies,  the  Liquor  Dealers’  Protective  Association  of 
Illinois,  and  the  Wholesale  Liquor  Dealers’  Association  have  all -gone 
on  record  as  in  favor  of  the  elimination  of  the  sale  of  liquor  in  con- 
nection with  prostitution. 

In  spite  of  this  fact  hundreds  of  prostitutes  (928  counted  by  the 
Commission  investigators)  are  permitted  and  encouraged  in  no  less 
than  236  saloons,  which  were  investigated  by  the  Commission.  Many 
of  these  disorderly  saloons  are  under  the  control  of  brewery  com- 
panies as  will  be  seen  later  in  the  report.  These  saloons  are 
frequented  by  immoral  women  who  openly  solicit  for  drinks  and  for 
immoral  purposes  and  receive  the  protection  of  the  saloon  keepers 
and  interests. 

The  Commission  is  strongly  convinced  that  there  should  be  imme- 
diate and  complete  separation  of  the  saloon  and  the  Social  Evil  and 
that  no  house  of  assignation  or  prostitution  or  rooms  above  or  ad- 
jacent should  be  allowed  in  connection  with  a saloon. 

Bawdy  houses  found  by  the  Commission  were  appalling  enough,  but 
the  abuse  of  liquor  selling  privileges  is  equal  in  viciousness  through 
its  open  and  alluring  flaunting  of  vice  and  degeneracy,  and  in  its  de- 
struction of  the  moral  character  of  men  who  frequent  the  saloon  pri- 
marily for  drink  only. 

The  following  definite  information  and  specific  cases  bring  out 
very  forcibly  the  conditions  as  they  exist.  Names  and  addresses  have 
been  suppressed,  signs  such  as  XI — XI 1 — etc.,  being  inserted. ^ 


^For  text  of  laws  and  ordinances  regarding  saloons  see  Appendices  XI- 
XII-XIII-XIV-XV-XVI. 

119 


120 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS  AND  TYPICAL  CASES. 

/.  Saloons  and  the  Brewers.  The  records  show  that  there  are 
7,152  saloons  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  The  City  Ordinances  limiting 
the  issuing  of  dramshop  licenses  which  went  into  effect  November  1, 
1906,  declare  that  a license  may  be  renewed  upon  strict  and  full 
compliance  with  the  law  and  ordinances  in  force  at  the  time  of  the 
application.  No  new  license,  however,  can  be  issued  until  the  licenses 
in  force  at  the  time  are  less  than  1 for  every  500  of  the  population,  as 
determined  by  a school  census.  When  this  occurs,  new  licenses  may 
be  issued. 

The  ordinance  further  provides  that  the  owner  or  owners  or  his 
or  their  legal  representatives,  of  a license  may  be  given  the  right 
to  a renewal  or  reissue  at  the  same  or  different  place  of  business. 
Also  the  owner  of  a license  may  assign  or  convey  his  right  to  the 
renewal  or  reissue  to  another  person.  This  privilege  of  renewal  or 
reissue  shall  apply  only  so  long  as  the  license  in  each  case  shall 
have  been  kept  in  force  continuously  and  uninterruptedly  in  the  name 
of  the  licensee,  or  his  successor  in  interest. 

The  ordinance  also  provides  that  no  license  to  keep  a saloon  shall 
be  hereafter  issued  to  a firm  except  in  the  name  of  the  individual 
members  of  the  firm,  and  no  such  license  shall  be  hereafter  issued  to 
a corporation,  provided,  however,  that  any  corporation  now  holding 
such  license  in  its  name  may  designate  the  person  or  persons  who  shall 
be  entitled  to  a renewal  or  reissue  for  the  license  period  beginning 
November  1,  1906.^ 

At  the  present  time,  the  ratio  of  saloons  to  population  is  practically 
one  to  three  hundred.  Before  any  more  licenses  can  be  issued,  there- 
fore, according  to  this  ordinance,  the  population  of  Chicago  will  have 
to  be  nearly  doubled.  Some  think  this  will  take  25  years. 

This  makes  the  saloon  problem  in  Chicago  a very  interesting  one. 

The  brewers  recognize  this  fact  and  are  endeavoring  to  control  as 
many  licenses  as  possible. 

The  following  news  item  which  appeared  in  the  daily  press  October 
2,  1910,  is  illuminating: 


^Appendix  XII. 


THE  SOCIAL  EViL  Al^D  THE  SALOON 


121 


SALOON  LICENSES  WORTH  $2,000. 

Contests  before  City  Officials  for  Their  Possession  show  Value. 

The  “ saloon  court  ” composed  of  City  Collector  Magerstadt  and 
Assistant  Corporation  Counsels  Barge  and  Beilman,  yesterday 
heard  fifteen  cases  in  which  breweries  and  the  supposed  owners 
of  saloons  were  contesting  for  the  ownership  of  licenses.  While 
in  most  instances  the  breweries  won,  having  for  some  considera- 
tion been  given  an  assignment  by  the  saloon  keepers,  in  several 
cases  they  were  beaten.  The  value  of  a saloon  license  in  Chi- 
cago, owing  to  the  restrictions  placed  on  their  issuance  by  the 
$1,000  ordinance,  is  now  approximately  $2,000.  The  breweries 
are  making  every  effort  to  secure  enough  licenses  to  give  them 
full  control  of  the  saloons. 

It  is  also  worthy  of  note  that  a saloon  keeper  of  a disreputable  re- 
sort in  South  Chicago  declared  that  certain  brewers  are  trying  to  buy 
up  the  licenses  of  similar  resorts  in  that  vicinity,  offering  $1,500  for 
the  $1,000  licenses.  In  one  instance  it  was  reported  that  a certain 
brewery  paid  $1,700  for  such  a license.  Only  recently  a representa- 
tive from  a well  known  brewery  has  purchased  four  licenses  from 
owners  of  saloons  in  the  South  Chicago  vice  district.  The  price  paid 
for  one  of  these  licenses  was  $1,800.  The  reason  these  licenses  were 
sold,  it  is  said,  was  because  of  the  agitation  against  the  sale  of  beer 
in  houses  of  prostitution.  When  things  were  running  smoothly  in  the 
houses  these  licenses  could  not  be  purchased  for  $5,000. 

The  Brewers’  Exchange,  which  is  composed  of  90  per  cent,  of  the 
brewing  companies  in  Chicago,  has  repeatedly  affirmed  that  it  is  ab- 
solutely opposed  to  the  sale  of  liquor  in  connection  with  prostitution. 

An  investigation  with  reference  to  236  disorderly  saloons  shows 
that  representatives  of  fourteen  brewing  companies  are  on  the  surety 
bonds  for  sixty-three  of  these  saloons. 

In  addition  there  are  a number  of  individuals  on  the  surety  bonds 
for  other  disorderly  saloons  who  are  also  connected  with  brewing 
companies  but  are  not  given  as  being  representatives. 

II.  The  Liquor  Dealers’  Protective  Association  of  Illinois  and  the 
Saloon.  This  organization  has  about  500  members  in  Chicago  and  all 
of  them  are  owners  of  saloons.  This  body  of  men  has  passed  resolu- 
tions and  has  worked  for  the  separation  of  prostitution  from  the  sale 
of  liquor  in  saloons,  yet  the  nuisance  is  not  abated. 


122 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


III.  The  Wholesale  Liquor  Dealers’  Association.  This  is  another 
important  organization  in  the  liquor  trade.  It  also  claims  that  as  an 
organization  it  is  interested  in  the  elimination  of  disorderly  saloons. 

Attention  has  been  called  to  these  organizations  because  they  might 
become  very  strong  factors  in  any  concerted  effort  to  divorce  the  sale 
of  liquor  from  prostitution,  especially  in  relation  to  saloons,  and  could 
do  much  to  really  change  the  situation  for  the  better. 

IV.  Disorderly  Saloons.  During  the  period  of  this  investigation 
the  Commission  has  considered  conditions  in  445  saloons  in  different 
parts  of  the  city.^ 

The  investigators  have  counted  928  unescorted  women  in  these  sa- 
loons who  by  their  actions  and  conversation  were  believed  to  be  pros- 
titutes. In  fact  they  were  solicited  by  one  or  more  different  women  in 
236  different  saloons  to  go  to  33  hotels  over  saloons,  to  82  rooms  over 
saloons,  to  23  regular  houses  of  prostitution  over  saloons,  to  37  hotels 
not  over  saloons  and  to  61  flats  not  over  saloons. ^ 

Of  the  455  saloons  investigated,  47  were  on  the  police  list  as  fur- 
nished by  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police  on  October  26,  1910, 
and  398  were  not. 

Of  the  37  hotels  to  which  investigators  were  solicited  to  go  by 
prostitutes  in  saloons,  and  which  were  not  over  saloons  one  is  on  the 
police  list,  32  are  not  and  3 are  doubtful. 

Of  the  61  flats  to  which  investigators  were  solicited  to  go  by  pros- 
titutes in  saloons,  and  which  were  not  over  saloons,  three  are  on  the 
police  list,  32  are  not  and  26  are  doubtful. ^ 

It  is  a fact  that  many  saloons,  especially  those  on  the  North  Side, 
are  beginning  to  put  in  partitions  in  the  rear  rooms.  In  some  in- 
stances the  entrances  to  these  small  rooms  are  hung  with  curtains 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  see  over  or  into  the  booths. 

V.  Saloon  Advertising.  Saloon  keepers  often  issue  cards  for  dis- 
tribution. These  cards  call  attention  to  the  “ joys  to  be  found  within” 
the  saloon,  the  effect  of  the  liquor  drank  and  the  possibilities  of 
pleasure. 


iTable  IV. 
2Table  IV. 
3Table  IV. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


123 


Clambake  in  Saloon.  The  following  is  a description  of  a clambake 
in  one  of  the  saloons,  which  illustrates  a method  of  attracting  patron- 
age and  advertising. 

(X269)  State  street.  Invitations  to  this  clambake  were  spread 
broadcast  two  or  three  weeks  before  the  event.  On  the  night  of  Oc- 
tober 2,  the  rear  rooms  of  this  saloon  were  crowded,  there  being 
about  150  women  present  besides  men.  Of  this  number  probably  50 
were  without  escorts.  Those  who  came  with  escorts  sat  at  the  tables 
with  them  for  a while  and  then  sought  out  other  men. 

One  case  was  that  of  a young  woman  about  21  years  of  age,  the 
wife  or  woman  of  a waiter  named  (X270).  This  woman  came  to 
the  rear  room  of  the  saloon  with  a child  about  three  or  four  years 
of  age.  During  the  evening  she  asked  men  to  buy  drinks  for  her  and 
later  went  away  with  a man,  leaving  the  child  to  be  taken  care  of  by 
another  woman. 

A brother  of  this  woman,  (X271)  by  name,  was  also  a waiter.  He 
was  trying  to  induce  men  to  sit  at  the  same  table  with  his  sister.  All 
of  the  waiters  in  fact  were  asking  men  if  they  were  not  lonesome 
and  would  not  like  to  have  a lady  companion. 

One  waiter  came  to  the  investigator  three  different  times  and  in- 
vited him  to  sit  with  a certain  woman.  Said  she  was  all  right  and 
would  give  him  a good  time.  The  waiter  lives  with  this  girl. 

VI.  Lookouts.  These  lookouts  or  “Lighthouses”  are  usually  young 
men.  They  stand  in  front  of  the  saloon  and  when  an  officer  in  uni- 
form or  a plain  clothes  man  approaches  in  the  distance  they  press  an 
electric  button  concealed  in  the  woodwork  or  behind  a beer  sign. 
Typical  places  where  these  lookouts  were  seen  operating  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

(X272)  Harbor  avenue. 

(X273)  Dearborn  street. 

(X274)  Dearborn  street. 

(X275)  Avenue. 

(X276)  Avenue. 

(X277)  West  22nd  street. 

(X278)  West  Madison  street. 

VII.  Bartenders  and  Waiters  Connected  with  Disorderly  Saloons. 

(X279)  North  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Bartender  said  if  a 
couple  did  not  want  a room  he  would  allow  them  to  go  to  a rear  room 
in  the  saloon  and  lock  the  door. 


124 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(X280)  Wells  street.  On  police  list.  Bartender  said  they  would 
not  have  anything  but  young  girls  in  this  place.  This  is  the  saloon 
frequented  by  Rosie,  the  “ Kid,”  who  said  she  was  not  yet  18  years 
old. 

(X281)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Waiter  said  that 
het  had  been  married  four  times.  Besides  this  he  had  had  a dozen 
women  who  had  solicited  for  him. 

(X282)  North  Clark  street.  On  police  list  as  (X238)  North  Clark 
street.  This  place  has  been  investigated  at  three  different  times.  Girls 
solicit  in  rear  rooms  and  take  men  upstairs  to  (X284)  Hotel.  It  is 
sometimes  called  the  (X284a)  Club.  A man  who  wants  a position  as 
waiter  here  expects  to  have  a girl  come  from  New  York  to  solicit  in 
the  place,  so  that  it  will  be  easier  for  him  to  obtain  a position. 

(X286)  East  Sixty-third  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Colored  man 
connected  with  the  saloon  offered  to  “ fix  it  ” so  that  Rosey  could  have 
a room  upstairs. 

(X287)  West  North  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  Proprietor  said 
the  women  upstairs  had  been  driven  out,  but  he  had  a nice  little  girl 
by  the  name  of  Violet  in  the  back  room  waiting  for  a fellow  named 
Frank.  If  investigator  desired  he  would  introduce  him  and  “ fix  it  up.” 

(X288)  South  Park  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  Julia  said  Harry, 
the  bartender,  could  “ fix  them  up  ” with  a room. 

(X289)  West  Madison  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Waiter  told 
investigator  that  if  he  came  around  some  other  night  he  could  give 
him  a “ real  young  chicken.” 

(X290)  Strand.  On  police  list.  Bartender  has  girl  who  works 
for  him  upstairs  in  house  of  prostitution.  Said  he  was  thinking  of 
taking  some  g'irls  to  Panama.  Said  a friend  of  his  made  a “ lot  of 
money  ” over  there,  and  that  he  would  probably  go  very  soon. 

(X291)  Strand.  Not  on  police  list.  Bartender  solicits  men  to 
go  upstairs  to  house  of  prostitution.  The  saloon  is  run  by  a man 
who  is  a cadet  for  the  landlady. 

(X292)  Harbor  avenue.  On  police  list.  Proprietor  also  operates 
house  of  prostitution  upstairs.  His  woman  solicits  and  is  landlady 
of  brothel  upstairs. 

(X293)  Strand.  On  police  list.  Proprietor  is  cadet  for  landlady 
who  conducts  house  of  prostitution  upstairs.  Bartender  solicits  men 
to  go  upstairs.  Rear  room  has  side  entrance.  A\'^omen  solicit  in  rear 
room. 

(X294)  Strand.  On  police  list.  Landlady  of  house  of  prostitu- 
tion upstairs  is  the  woman  of  one  of  the  proprietors.  Bartender  said 
they  expected  to  have  seven  more  women  in  a few  days. 

(X295)  Harbor  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  Bartender  solicits  men 
to  go  to  house  of  prostitution  upstairs. 

(X296)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Bartender  in- 
duced investigator  to  go  to  rear  room  to  meet  a girl,  saying  that 
she  wanted  to  see  him.  She  solicited  investigator  to  go  upstairs. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


125 


(X297)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Bartender  said 
a girl  could  be  found  in  the  Chinese  restaurant  upstairs.  Drinks  are 
sent  up  to  this  place  from  the  saloon. 

(X298)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Bartender  said 
it  was  his  birthday  and  his  girl,  Rose,  20  years  of  age,  who  works 
in  a lawyer’s  office  for  $20.00  per  week,  gave  him  a diamond  stud  as  a 
present. 

(X299)  Root  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Minnie  solicited  investi- 
gator to  go  upstairs.  Price,  $2.00,  $1.00  for  room.  She  said  the 
bartender  was  her  sweetheart  and  when  he  wanted  a dollar  she  gave 
it  to  him.  She  was  20  years  old. 

(X300)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Investigator  met 
a cadet  named  Frank,  who'  said  his  “ woman,”  Fifie,  lived  on  62nd 
street. 

(X301)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Heard  three 
men  talking  about  a cadet  named  Jack  (X302)  who  had  brought 
a girl  from  (X303),  Indiana,  and  had  promised  to  marry  her.  When 
she  received  money  from  home  he  took  it  away  and  left  her.  Her 
father  is  a wealthy  farmer.  She  is  19  years  of  age  and  they  call 
her  Carmen. 

(X304)  South  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  (X305)  said  he 
didn’t  work,  as  Maggie,  his  girl,  keeps  him.  She  is  in  a flat  at  (X306) 
street  and  (X307)  avenue.  Maggie  had  been  supporting  him  for  six 
weeks. 

(X308)  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  (X309)  told  investigator 
that  he  had  a sister  at  (X310)  avenue  who  was  “sporting.”  Also 
that  he  had  a girl  at  (X311)  avenue,  who  “comes  across  with  the 
coin.”  This  man  claims  to  work  for  a railroad  company.  Spends  his 
salary  on  himself  and  lives  “ off  what  she  makes. 

VIII.  Entertainment.  In  the  majority  of  saloons  the  entertain- 
ments consist  of  piano  playing  and  singing.  In  some  instances  a 
vaudville  performance  is  given,  as  at  (X312),  (X313)  South  Halsted 
street,  (X314),  (X315)  West  Madison  street,  (X316),  (X317)  South 
Halsted  street,  and  the  (X318),  (X319)  West  Madison  street.  The 
singers  usually  receive  $10.00  per  week  and  a percentage  on  drinks. 
These  performers  mingle  with  the  men  at  the  tables  and  solicit  for 
immoral  purposes. 

On  August  10th,  at  (X320)  LaSalle  avenue  investigator  saw  a 
colored  woman  playing  the  piano  while  her  son  played  the  violin.  The 
bartender  said  the  boy  was  14  years  of  age.  There  is  a regular  house 
of  prostitution  upstairs  conducted  by  the  wife  of  the  proprietor  of 
the  saloon.  On  August  30th  the  boy  was  not  seen  in  the  place. 

^For  further  data  on  Men  in  Saloons,  see  “ Under  Special  Typical 
Cases,”  also  under  Panders  and  Cadets,  chap.  IV. 


126 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


IX.  Robbing  in  Saloons.  (X321)  avenue.  Not  on  police  list 
Conducted  by  colored  men.  Bebe,  a white  woman  who  solicits  here, 
told  investigator  how  she  had  robbed  a fellow  of  a pocket  book  con- 
taining $40.00. 

As  pointed  out  above  under  “ Entertainment,”  men  who  imperson- 
ate females  are  among  the  vaudeville  entertainers,  in  these  saloons. 
Unless  these  men  are  known,  it  is  difficult  to  detect  their  sex.  They 
solicit  men  at  the  tables  for  drinks  the  same  as  the  women,  and  ask 
them  to  go  upstairs  for  pervert  practices. 

X.  Dance  Halls.  In  many  cases  public  dance  halls  are  located  in 
the  same  buildings  with  saloons.  While  bar  permits  are  usually  given 
for  the  sale  of  liquor  in  the  dance  halls,  the  dancers  have  been  seen 
to  frequent  the  rear  rooms  of  saloons.  In  other  cases  the  dance  halls 
are  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  saloons  and  the  dancers  go  to  these. 

'August  23.  Investigator  saw.  girls  come  out  of  a dance  hall  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  (X322)  and  (X323)  streets  and  go  into  a 
saloon  on  ground  floor  with  escorts. 

August  31.  Investigator  saw  four  girls  come  out  of  (X324)  dance 
hall  over  saloon  at  (X325)  West  Madison  street  and  go  into  rear 
room  with  escorts.  Girls  appeared  to  be  quite  young. 

XI.  Children  in  Saloon.  (X326)  Wentiuorth  avenue.  Not  on 
police  list.  A bowling  alley  is  connected  with  this  saloon  at  rear  of 
bar.  Proprietor  told  investigator  that  he  had  four  “ kids  ” employed 
to  set  up  the  pins  in  the  alley.  The  boys,  he  said,  were  10  and  12 
years  old.  They  received  two  and  one-half  cents  per  game. 

(X327)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Investigator  saw 
girl  about  12  years  of  age  behind  the  bar.  Thought  she  was  the 
daughter  of  proprietor. 

(X328)  Noble  street.  While  investigator  was  attending  a dance  in 
a hall  over  this  saloon  on  October  15th,  he  saw  a girl  not  over  16 
come  into  this  saloon  with  a pitcher  and  buy  five  cents’  worth  of 
beer  at  the  bar.^ 

XII.  Midnight  Closing.  (X329)  North  Clark  street.  On  police 
list.  September  11th,  investigator  in  this  saloon  until  1;  30  A.  M. 
Three  girls  here,  one  solicited  him  to  go  up  stairs. 

(X330)  West  Madison  street.  Not  on  police  list.  September  5th, 
investigator  went  into  this  saloon  at  1:30  A.  M.  with  Blanche 


iSee  Chapter  V,  “Child  Protection  and  Education,”  page  239. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


127 


(X331),  a vaudeville  singer  at  (X332),  (X333)  West  Madison  street. 
(X333a)  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  Conducted  by  colored  men. 
White  women  soliciting  in  room  upstairs.  Was  in  this  place  until 
4:00  A.  M. 

August  18th.  (X334)  West  Madison  street,  in  this  saloon  after 

1 : 00  A.  M.  5 girls — rooms  upstairs. 

August  27th.  (X335)  West  Madison  street,  in  this  saloon  at  2:30 
A.  M.  5 girls — rooms  upstairs. 

August  27th.  (X336)  West  Madison  street,  in  this  saloon  at  3:10 

A.  M.  2 girls — hotel  over  saloon. 

August  23rd.  (X337)  West  Madison  street,  in  this  saloon  at  1:50 

A.  M.  14  girls,  rooms  upstairs. 

August  13th.  (X338)  South  State  street.  Proprietor  will  admit 

persons  in'  this  saloon  after  1 : 00  A.  M.  if  known.  5 girls  in  rear 
room.  (X338a)  Hotel  is  over  this  saloon. 

XIII.  Police  and  Saloons  where  Immoral  Conditions  Exist.  This 
subject  is  treated  in  full  with  typical  instances  in  Chapter  III,  “ The 
Social  Evil  and  The  Police,”  page  143. 

XIV.  How  Women  Enter  Lives  of  Prostitution  through  the  Saloon. 
Many  of  the  women  who  frequent  the  saloons  at  the  beginning  are 
not  professional  prostitutes.  They  are  weak  morally  with  a strong 
desire  for  drink.  They  learn  that  generous  men  are  there  who  wil- 
lingly buy  them  drinks.  Gradually  these  women  find  that  they  are 
able  to  earn  commissions  from  the  saloon  management  on  drinks. 
Thus  their  visits  become  more  frequent  until  they  gradually  drift  into 
a life  of  professional  prostitution  for  the  extra  money. 

A second  class  of  woman  is  the  widow  or  divorced  woman  with 
children.  Many  of  these  women  are  left  without  support  and  are 
incapable  of  earning  a living  in  the  industrial  world,  and  finally 
resort  to  the  saloon  as  an  avenue  to  money  making.  As  an  illustration. 
A woman  now  known  as  “the  (X338a)”  solicits  in  the  (X339)  Cafe 
at  (X340)  South  Halsted  street.  She  told  the  investigator  she  was 
a widow  with  two  children.  When  her  husband  died  she  attempted  to 
work,  but  found  it  impossible  to  support  herself  and  her  children  on 
the  wages  she  received.  As  she  had  a fair  voice  she  began  to  sing  in 
cafes.  At  this  time  she  had  no  idea  of  “hustling,”  but  when  she 
had  to  sit  and  drink  with  men,  night  after  night,  she  was  advised  by 
the  waiters,  by  proprietors  and  by  men  she  drank  with  to  “ hustle,” 
as  “she  could  make  more  out  of  it.” 


128 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


She  resisted  the  temptation,  however,  until  one  night  she  was  at- 
tracted by  a “ cadet,”  and  it  was  through  his  influence  that  she  began 
a life  of  prostitution,  giving  him  part  of  the  proceeds.  She  is  not 
living  with  the  “ cadet  ” at  present,  and  consequently  has  saved  some 
money.  This  woman  is  about  40  years  old  and  has  been  in  the  busi- 
ness for  several  years.  She  testified  to  the  fact  that  she  had  seen 
many  young  and  decent  women  “go  to  the  bad”  just  through  the 
habit  of  frequenting  saloons  for  the  sake  of  persuading  men  to  buy 
drinks.  At  first  these  women  come  with  a woman  friend  for  a sociable 
time.  Soon  they  become  acquainted  with  the  waiters  who  often  give 
them  drinks  and  are  kind  in  other  ways.  These  waiters  compliment 
them  upon  their  physical  charms.  Then  a waiter  will  introduce  one 
of  his  friends  who  buys  them  drinks.  These  men  see  that  the  women 
are  “ green,”  and  at  first  talk  to  them  in  a modest  way,  and  make  them 
feel  that  they  are  friends.  When  the  women  leave,  they  agree  to 
come  again  in  a few  days. 

As  time  goes  on  the  supposed  “ friends  ” gradually  lead  up  to  a 
conversation  of  a more  suggestive  nature.  The  women,  probably  loose 
in  morals,  do  not  resent  this  familiarity  and  take  it  in  good  part. 
As  their  circle  of  acquaintance  among  men  grows,  they  begin  to 
receive  a commission  on  drinks.  They  find  they  are  earning  from 
$1.00  to  $2.00/ in  an  evening  besides  having  a sociable  time.  This 
opens  their  eyes  to  the  possibility  of  making  money  so  easily.  The 
men  take  advantage  of  this,  and  they  all  conspire  in  encouraging  the 
women  to  continue.  It  is  only  a matter  of  a short  time  until  the 
women  are  going  upstairs  or  to  nearby  hotels  as  professional  pros- 
titutes. 

The  method  used  by  the  waiter,  the  proprietor  and  the  cadet  is 
in  appealing  to  the  women’s  vanity.  They  make  them  feel  that  they 
are  honored  by  having  the  privilege  of  giving  them  drinks.  They 
use  this  form  of  flattery  and  thus  gradually  attach  the  woman  to  their 
particular  saloon,  saying  they  are  glad  to  have  them  there,  and  that 
they  can  make  more  money  in  their  place  than  in  any  other. 

This  is  the  way  in  which  such  women  as  Marcella  (X341),  the 
(X341a),  Violet  (X341b),  and  Tantine  (X342),  became  professional 
prostitutes. 

The  third  class  includes  the  professional  prostitute  who  started  in 
the  dance  hall,  where  she  has  acquired  a liking  for  drink  or  others 
who  have  come  from  the  street  or  from  low  priced  houses. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


129 


This  is  a large  class.  They  enter  into  business  arrangements  with 
saloon  keepers  from  the  start,  and  it  is  through  these  that  the  pro- 
prietor derives  his  large  and  abnormal  profits. 

Xy.  Solicitation  in  Connection  with  Saloons  by  Women.  Aside 
from  solicitation  in  rear  rooms  of  saloons,  women  stand  in  doorways 
near  the  end  of  the  bar  and  ask  men  to  come  into  rear  rooms  and 
buy  drinks;  then  the  men  are  solicited  to  go  upstairs  or  other  places. 

(X343)  West  Madison  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Girls  stood  at 
end  of  bar  near  door  leading  to  rear  room,  asking  men  to  buy  them 
drinks.  Bartender  “ called  ” one  girl  because  she  spoke  in  a loud 
voice  to  one  man  while  a “ fly  cop  ” was  in  the  place. 

(X344)  Wells  street.  On  police  list.  Girls  stood  in  a doorway  lead- 
ing to  bar  and  invited  men  into  the  rear  room. 

(X345)  North  Clark  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Rosie  sat  at  end 
of  bar  near  door  to  rear  room  smoking  a cigarette.  Invited  investigator 
to  enter  room. 

XVI.  Protection  of  Women.  It  is  the  common  practice  for  pro- 
prietors to  protect  the  girls  who  frequent  their  places.  By  protection 
is  meant  the  habit  of  paying  the  fine  or  bailing  out  the  girls  who  are 
arrested.  Bebe  at  No.  (X345a)  Wabash  avenue  said  that  (X346), 
the  proprietor,  offers  this  protection,  and  in  return  does  not  give  the 
girls  commissions  on  drinks  sold  by  them  in  the  concert  room  at- 
tached to  the  saloon. 

XVII.  Vulgarity  in  Saloons.  On  November  6th,  (X347)  saloon. 
Investigator  saw  two  dancers  in  the  rear  room  of  this  saloon.  One 
of  these  women  had  on  a loose  blouse  and  when  she  danced  this 
blouse  was  lifted  up,  exposing  her  naked  body.  Two  detectives  came 
in  during  this  performance.  One  of  them  is  called  (X347a). 

At  (X348)  West  Van  Buren  street,  a girl  exposed  herself  to  men 
in  the  room.  Proprietor  conducts  a house  of  ill-fame  at  (X349)  Curtis 
street. 

At  (X350)  West  Lake  street.  The  men  and  women  use  the  toilet 
room  at  the  same  time.  This  place  was  ordered  closed  by  police  on 
August  11th.  It  was  open  on  August  23rd. 

(X351)  South  Halsted  street.  It  is  a rough  place  with  noisy  and 
vulgar  women.  It  is  a common  practice  for  women  in  the  saloons  to 
stand  at  the  door  of  the  toilet,  and  ask  men  to  buy  drinks  or  solicit 
them  as  they  come  out. 

(X352)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Women  vulgar 
and  dirty — exposed  themselves. 


130 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(X353)  South  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Entertainers  tell 
vulgar  and  smutty  jokes  and  sing  suggestive  and  indecent  songs. 

(X354)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Women  vulgar 
and  dirty.  One  woman  with  breasts  hanging  outside  of  dress  sat  in 
the  balcony  with  a man  at  a table.  Detectives  in  room  at  this  time. 

XVIII.  How  Saloon  Keepers  Make  Abnormal  Profits  by  Allowing 
Professional  Prostitutes  to  Freque^it  Rear  Rooms  or  Upstairs.  As 
pointed  out  above  certain  saloon  proprietors  make  a business  of  en- 
couraging professional  prostitutes  to  make  their  headquarters  in  the 
rear  rooms.  Some  have  a definite  understanding  with  these  women 
and  they  are  protected  in  different  ways,  as  well  as  given  commission 
on  the  drinks  they  persuade  men  to  buy.  In  some  instances  the 
fines  of  the  women  are  paid  by  the  proprietors,  or  bail  is  furnished 
by  them.  In  other  words  the  saloon  keepers  stand  in  much  the  same 
relation  to  the  prostitute  in  his  saloon  as  madames  do  toward  in- 
mates of  regular  houses  of  prostitution. 

Instances  have  been  found  where  prostitutes  actually  live  in  rooms 
over  the  saloon,  and  spend  the  afternoon  as  well  as  evenings  in  the 
rear  room,  in  much  the  same  way  as  inmates  appear  in  the  parlors  of 
regular  houses  of  prostitution. 

To  all  intents  and  purposes,  then,  many  saloons  are  actually  houses 
of  prostitution  with  inmates. 

Another  class  of  saloon  is  that  which  allows  prostitutes  who  so- 
licit on  the  street,  or  for  nearby  hotels  and  flats,  to  make  the  rear 
rooms  their  rendezvous  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  men  or  to  solicit 
customers. 

This  system  has  enabled  many  saloon  keepers  to  become  wealth)’ 
in  a short  time.  They  receive  abnormal  profits  from  the  sale  of 
liquor  in  the  rear  rooms  and  upstairs.  They  also  receive  enormous 
rents  by  the  month  for  assignation  rooms  upstairs.  These  rooms  are 
often  rented  several  times  during  the  afternoon  or  evening.  The 
following  observations  bring  these  points  out  more  clearly. 

a.  Profits  on  Beer  when  Sold  in  Rear  Rooms  of  Saloons.  Wlien 
a man  enters  the  rear  rooms  of  a saloon  of  the  type  mentioned  above, 
the  prostitutes  endeavor  to  persuade  him  to  buy  drinks,  on  which 
they  receive  a commission.  The  usual  price  for  a pint  bottle  of  beer 
when  purchased  by  a man  under  these  circumstances  is  25  cents. 
This  pint  does  not  cost  the  saloon  keeper  more  than  four  cents. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


131 


h.  Profits  on  Counterfeit  Drinks  when  Sold  in  the  Rear  Rooms  of 
Saloons.  The  largest  profit,  rowever,  is  made  on  mixed  drinks  of 
various  kinds  which  prostitutes  in  the  rear  rooms  encourage  the  men 
customers  to  buy.  When  such  a man  orders  any  kind  of  drink  besides 
beer  the  portion  brought  to  the  prostitute  is  counterfeit,  though  the 
customer  has  paid  the  usual  rear  room  price. 

It  must  be  remembered  also  that  the  price  of  these  counterfeit  drinks 
is  doubled  if  served  upstairs,  so  the  margin  of  profit  is  much  larger. 

On  the  night  of  October  14,  a contractor  spent  several  hundred 
dollars  buying  wine  in  the  rear  room  of  a saloon  at  (X355)  South 
Halsted  street. 

Looking  at  the  matter  with  these  facts  in  mind  one  may  imagine 
why  it  is  so  difficult  to  enforce  the  police  regulations  prohibiting  the 
presence  of  prostitutes  in  the  rear  rooms  of  saloons. 

The  investigation  of  the  (X356)  Cafe  at  (X357)  South  Halsted 
street,  shows  that  on  September  27th,  23  prostitutes  were  in  the  rear 
room  of  this  saloon  asking  men  to  buy  drinks  and  soliciting  them  for 
immoral  purposes.  The  price  of  a pint  of  beer  in  this  rear  room  is 
25  cents.  In  some  cases  it  was  sold  for  15  cents.  The  entertainment 
in  the  rear  room  consists  of  cheap  vaudeville. 

Mr.  (X358)  told  the  investigator  that  he  would  have  to  close  his 
business  in  a month  if  he  did  not  have  the  women  in  the  rear  room. 
This  place  is  not  on  the  police  list. 

Harry  (X358a),  who  has  been  a waiter  in  saloons  and  manager 
of  such  places  for  the  past  15  years,  said  that  the  majority  of  these 
saloons  which  cater  to  prostitutes,  could  not  exist  over  six  weeks  with- 
out them.  He  further  stated  that  (X359),  at  (X360)  South  Halsted 
street,  for  whom  he  is  now  working,  had  absolutely  nothing  when  he 
opened  his  place.  He  is  reported  to  have  made  a large  fortune  in 
this  business  in  a short  time. 

On  August  11,  1910,  investigator  counted  eight  prostitutes  in  the 
rear  room  of  (X361)  saloon.  On  August  29th,  seven  prostitutes,  on 
September  27th,  10  prostitutes,  all  asking  men  to  buy  drinks  and 
soliciting  them  for  immoral  purposes.  The  entertainment  in  this 
place  consists  of  cheap  vaudeville.  The  saloon  is  not  on  the  police 
list. 

On  the  night  of  August  11th,  investigator  witnessed  a crap  game 
is  one  of  the  upstairs  rooms.  It  lasted  until  9 : 00  A.  M.  August  12th. 
This  is  another  source  of  profit  to  many  of  these  saloon  keepers. 
Perhaps  even  more  than  the  sale  of  liquor. 

c.  Cumulative  Rent  for  Assignation  Rooms  Over  Saloons.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  abnormal  profit  on  liquor,  the  saloon  keeper  who  caters 
to  prostitutes  increases  his  profits,  in  many  instances,  by  renting  rooms 
upstairs  in  the  same  building  for  assignation  purposes. 


132 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


These  rooms  as  a rule  are  fitted  up  at  very  little  cost,  with  a rude 
bed,  two  chairs,  a wash  stand,  with  cheap  pitcher  and  wash  bowl  and 
two  towels,  laundered  many,  many  times. 

The  following  cases  showing  methods  of  soliciting  and  selling  drinks 
are  typical:  On  August  15th,  investigator  counted  15  prostitutes  in 
the  rear  room  of  a saloon  at  (X362)  North  Clark  street.  (Not  on 
police  list.)  He  was  solicited  to  go  to  room  in  hotel  over  saloon, 
price  of  room,  50  cents  and  $1.00  for  a short  time.  Beer  is  sold  in 
rear  room  for  25  cents  per  pint. 

Saloon  at  (X363)  North  Clark  street.  On  police  list.  August  10th, 
investigator  counted  nine  prostitutes  in  rear  room.  Solicited  by  Goldie. 
September  23rd,  11  prostitutes,  solicited  by  “Tommy  Atkins,”  price  of 
room  upstairs,  $1.00. 

It  is  seen  then,  that  the  sale  of  liquor  in  connection  with  prostitu- 
tion in  saloon  and  hotels,  as  in  the  case  with  regular  houses,  is  an 
enormous  source  of  profit  and  one  of  the  most  practical  ways  to  deal 
a blow  at  the  Social  Evil,  is  to  absolutely  divorce  the  sale  of  liquor 
from  prostitution  in  all  of  these  places. 

The  reason  why  this  is  so  difficult  to  do  is  easily  seen.  The  proper 
enforcement  of  the  law  is  hindered  because  of  the  enormous  profits  in 
this  business  to  the  lawbreaker.^ 


TYPICAL  CASES  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  SALOONS. 

XIX.  Cases  of  Girls  in  Saloons  and  their  Condition  at  Present 
Time,  or  Previous  to  Taking  up  this  Life. 

(X364)  South  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Violet,  20  years 
old.  Ruined  by  waiter  at  (X365),  (X366)  Cottage  Grove  avenue. 
Lived  with  him.  While  away  attending  her  father’s  funeral  he  left 
her.  She  then  went  into  business  “proper.” 

(X367)  South  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Mignon  lives  at 
(X368)  street  and  Wabash  avenue.  Married,  but  husband  would  not 
support  her  and  made  her  go  to  work.  Found  prostitution  easier 
way  to  make  a living.  Left  husband  and  went  into  business  “right.” 

(X369)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Rosie  (X369a) 
said  she  ran  away  from  home  to  go  on  stage  six  years  ago  and  drifted 
into  the  life. 

(X370)  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  Conducted  by  colored  men. 
White  women  solicit  in  room  upstairs.  Bebe  (X371)  and  Tantine 

ipor  further  data  on  “Profits  from  Prostitution  in  Chicago,”  see  Chap- 
ter I,  page  95. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


133 


(X372)  live  in  a private  house  in  Englewood.  Gave  ’phone  number  but 
not  address.  Tantine  said  she  was  trying  to  secure  a divorce  from  her 
husband,  and  when  she  did  she  was  going  to  open  a flat. 

(X373)  Wells  street.  On  police  list.  Little  Rosie,  “ the  Kid,”  said 
she  was  not  yet  18  years  old,  and  that  all  the  girls  in  the  saloons  were 
“ chickens.”  They  appeared  to  be  quite  young  to  investigator.  Four- 
teen girls  in  this  saloon. 

(X374)  Western  avenue.  Violet  (X375)  said  she  did  not  go  around 
much.  Lives  at  home  but  wants  spending  money.  She  knew  of  no 
place  to  go  except  brick  yard  two  blocks  away.  Said  she  was  18  years 
old.  Seven  other  girls  in  this  saloon. 

(X376)  Rush  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Betty  and  Bebe  were  at 
side  door.  Said  they  were  out  for  a good  time.  Live  in  furnished 
room.  Would  go  any  place  for  $1.00. 

(X377)  North  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Met  Marcella  at 
side  door.  Has  a private  room  at  (X378)  North  State  street.  Mar- 
ried in  (X379),  deserted  in  (X380)  and  had  to  go  out  and  “hustle.” 
Been  immoral  one  year. 

(X381)  North  Clark  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Investigator  saw 
girl  come  out  of  this  place  and  meet  girl  friend  across  the  street.  They 
both  came  back  and  went  into  saloon.  Investigator  followed.  Girls 
drank  sherry  wine.  Said  they  had  run  away  from  home  so  they 
would  not  have  to  go  to  school.  They  met  a fellow  who  got  them 
a job  in  (X382)  department  store,  where  they  each  make  $5.50  per 
week.  They  can’t  live  on  this  so  they  “hustle”  on  the  side.  They 
think  this  is  better  than  going  to  school,  and  not  having  any  spend- 
ing money,  besides  they  were  their  own  boss.  Mignon  said  she  was 
18,  Violet  said  she  was  19.  They  have  a private  room  in  a furnished 
room  house  in  middle  of  block  on  (X383)  street  east  of  Clark,  but 
would  not  give  the  number. 

(X384)  Harbor  avenue.  On  police  list.  Girl  a hard  drinker.  While 
investigator  was  in  saloon  she  had  two  fainting  spells,  one  lasting  20 
minutes,  the  other  10  minutes.  This  was  the  ninth  spell  she  had  had 
that  evening. 

This  girl  was  formerly  a domestic  servant,  but  says  she  “don’t  want 
to  work  at  that  hard  graft  any  more.”  To  quote  her  own  words,  “The 
ladies  when  they  got  money  to  hire  servants  imagine  they  have  some 
kind  of  a dog  to  kick  around,  and  I didn’t  want  to  be  kicked  around.” 

(X385)  Harbor  avenue.  On  police  list.  Girl  said  her  cousin  had 
put  her  in  the  business  soon  after  she  came  to  this  country. 

(X386)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Violet  (X387) 
about  35  years  of  age.  Working  in  mailing  department  of  (X388). 
“Hustles”  in  cafes  on  Halsted  street  at  night.  Has  a cadet. 

Violet  came  from  Louisville,  Kentucky.  She  is  trying  to  save 
enough  money  to  open  a rooming  house  in  this  city. 

(X389)  North  Clark  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Rosie  (X390)  so- 
licited in  here.  Lives  on  La  Salle  avenue.  Does  not  take  men 


134 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO. 


to  her  room,  but  would  go  to  hotel  (X391),  (X392)  North  Clark 
street,  or  any  other  hotel.  Came  to  Chicago  from  Nebraska. 

(X393)  South  Halsted  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Josey,  19  years 
old.  Said  she  was  afraid  she  was  in  trouble.  Does  not  care  what  be- 
comes of  her.  First  went  out  with  a man  for  a good  time.  After- 
wards met  other  fellows.  Don’t  know  who  is  to  blame  for  her  condi- 
tion. Expects  to  leave  town  as  soon  as  she  can  earn  enough  money. 
Going  to  Saginaw,  Michigan,  and  enter  a house  of  prostitution  she 
knows  of  there. 

(X394)  Root  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Violet  solicited  investi- 
gator to  go  upstairs.  Price  $1.00  or  $2.00  Room  50  cents.  Has  a 
mother  to  keep  and  needs  the  money.  Could  not  make  anything 
working  so  she  and  her  girl  friend,  Georgie,  started  to  “ hustle.”  Violet 
is  23  years  old. 

(X39S)  West  Madison  street.  Not  on  police  list.  May  solicited  in- 
vestigator. Said  she  was  16  years  old.  Left  home  because  she  had 
to  work  in  a department  store  for  $4.00  per  week  and  “ hustling  ” was 
easier. 

(X395a)  South  State  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Tantine  solicited 
investigator,  is  19  years  of  age  and  just  started  to  “hustle.”  Says  it 
is  easier  than  waiting  on  table  for  $1.00  per  day. 

(X396)  Wentworth  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  Lizzie  was  stand- 
ing in  doorway.  Invited  investigator  into  saloon.  Five  men  were 
gambling  in  rear  room.  Lizzie  said  she  could  get  a room  upstairs, 
price  of  room,  50  cents  and  $1.00.^ 


SPECIAL  TYPICAL  CASES. 

A.  (X397)  "Wabash  avenue.  Not  on  police  list.  This  saloon  is 
operated  by  Jim  (X398)  and  John  (X399).  The  partnership  was 
formed  only  recently.  The  cafe  is  known  as  the  (X400).  This  place 
is  open  all  the  time,  the  entertainment  lasting  until  5 : 00  A.  M.  Ad- 
mittance after  1 : 00  A.  M.  is  made  through  the  side  door,  leading  off 
a main  passageway  from  the  street,  to  the  left  of  the  building.  Jule 
(X401),  a waiter  in  this  place  and  brother  of  (X402),  one  of  the 
proprietors,  lives  on  (X403)  avenue  near  (X404)  street  Avith  a girl 
who  is  kept  by  Rube  (X405),  alias  Si  (X406),  one  of  the  entertainers 
in  the  cafe.  Rube  is  a married  man  and  his  wife  lives  at  (X407)  and 
X408)  avenue. 

1.  Entertainment.  The  entertainment  is  bj’^  means  of  an  electric 
piano  and  three  men  singers,  who  sing  popular  ragtime  songs  with 
indecent  parodies,  wearing  various  costumes.  These  entertainers  re- 

^For  other  cases  of  women  in  saloons,  see  “ Special  Typical  Cases.” 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


135 


ceive  $2.00  per  day  each,  besides  the  money  they  are  able  to  collect 
from  the  customers. 

2.  Waiters  and  Prostitutes.  There  are  two  waiters  who  make  an 
average  of  $75.00  per  week  on  tips  and  such  money  as  they  can 
make  on  overcharges,  which  custom  is  very  extensively  practiced  by 
them.  After  1 ; 00  A.  M.,  the  bar  at  the  front  of  the  place  is  closed, 
but  a closet  containing  all  the  intoxicating  beverages  necessary  is 
opened,  and  beer  in  bottles  and  all  liquors  are  sold  from  this  closet. 
There  are  but  few  solicitors  who  actually  stay  in  this  saloon  con- 
tinuously, most  of  them  traveling  from  one  cafe  to  another,  usually 
to  (X409)  and  (X410)  and  back  again.  There  are  three  girls  who 
really  belong  there,  one  Marjie  (X411),  a girl  of  about  20  years  old, 
who  has  only  been  in  the  restricted  district  for  about  two  months. 
Previous  to  this,  she  was  in  the  habit  of  frequenting  the  (X412),  a 
dance  hall  at  (X413)  and  (X414)  streets,  which  place  she  blames  for 
her  downfall.  Fifie  (X415),  a girl  living  on  (X416)  street  with  her 
parents,  solicits  very  irregularly,  her  principal  reason  for  frequenting 
this  place  is  because  she  likes  the  associations. 

Gladys  (X417),  formery  a habitue  of  (X418)  resort,  frequents  this 
place  and  solicits. 

The  rest  of  the  girls  soliciting  in  this  saloon  are  all  habitues  of 
other  resorts,  who  are  here  at  various  intervals,  and  go  back  and  forth. 
The  girls  are  not  paid  by  the  keeper,  nor  do  they  receive  any  com- 
mission on  the  drinks  sold.  One  of  the  partners,  Jim  (X398),  was, 
up  to  the  time  he  bought  this  place,  a waiter  in  (X420),  otherwise 
known  as  the  (X421)  on  (X422)  street,  corner  of  an  alley,  between 
(X423)  and  Wabash.  He  is  a habitual  user  of  cocaine  and  opium. 
His  brother,  one  of  the  waiters  there,  has  been  charged  with  abduc- 
tion in  the  case  of  Bessie  (X424),  who  formerly  lived  at  (X425) 
Lake  avenue.  The  charge  was  dropped,  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
girl  left  for  New  York  City,  where  she  is  at  present.  On  or  about 
October  1,  1909,  he  married  this  girl  at  (X426),  Indiana,  in  spite 
of  the  fact  that  he  was  previously  married  and  had  two  children.  The 
parents  of  Bessie  (X424)  then  had  him  arrested  for  bigamy,  and  he 
was  sentenced  to  serve  two  months  in  jail  at  (X428),  which  he  did. 
The  marriage  was  then  annulled.  Jim  (X398)  secured  the  finances 
for  the  opening  of  this  saloon  from  his  brother,  Hal  (X431),  who  is 
the  owner  of  the  (X432)  and  the  (X433)  cafes  on  (X434)  street. 
There  is  no  hotel  directly  connected  with  this  cafe.  The  nearest 
hotel  is  about  one-half  block  away,  but  the  solicitors  usually  cater  to 
the  (X435)  hotel,  where  they  receive  a commission  of  about  50  per 
cent. 

The  (X436)  Cafe,  (X437)  West  Madison  street.  Located  in  the 
heart  of  the  West  Side  levee,  it  has  a greater  patronage  than  any 
cafe  on  the  West  Side.  House  upstairs,  two  women.  On  police  list. 
This  cafe  is  owned  by  two  partners.  One  of  the  partners,  (X438), 
is  the  active  head  of  the  business,  and  was  a popular  saloon  keeper. 
He  is  at  present  living  with  a woman  called  (X439),  who  is  a solicitor 


136 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


in  (X440)  Cafe  at  (X441)  and  (X442)  street.  The  other  partner  is 
(X443).  He  is  living  with  a woman  called  Paulette  (X444),  who 
keeps  a house  of  prostitution  at  (X445)  West  Madison  street. 

This  house  is  popularly  known  by  the  old  number,  (X446),  and 
receives  most  of  its  patronage  from  the  West  Side.  Mr.  (X447)  is 
king  here  and  his  brother  is  a cadet  attached  to  the  house.  There  are 
five  girls  in  this  house.  They  charge  $1.00  and  sell  beer  at  50  cents  a 
pint.  The  cafe  at  (X448)  West  Madison  street  consists  of  a main 
entrance  and  one  entrance  for  the  saloon,  as  there  is  a bar  on  one 
side.  On  the  other  side  is  an  entrance  leading  into  a hallway,  which 
has  a little  side  door  leading  into  cafe.  The  stairs  lead  up  into  a 
house  of  prostitution,  but  this  house  is  not  connected  in  any  way  with 
the  owners  of  the  cafe. 

There  are  four  waiters  working  here,  one  (X449),  is  living  with  a 
prostitute  on  Wabash  avenue.  The  woman  he  has  now  is  (X450), 
who  is  one  of  the  regular  solicitors  in  (X451)  hall.  The  other  waiter 
called  (X452)  is  living  with  some  prostitute  at  (X453)  place  at  (X454) 
West  Madison  street.  Not  on  police  list.  The  third  waiter  named 
(X455)  goes  out  when  he  is  invited.  The  fourth  is  a fellow  who  is 
trying  to  become  a cadet. 

The  entertainment  consists  of  three  men  singers  and  a piano  player 
(man),  also  one  woman  singer.  The  oldest  one  here  is  (X455a),  he 
has  worked  at  this  place  for  about  one  year.  He  lives  with  (X456) 
at  No.  (X457)  Dearborn  street. 

The  patronage  on  Saturday,  Sunday  and  Wednesday  nights  is 
largely  from  (X458)  dance  hall  at  the  corner  of  (X459)  and  (X460), 
about  one-half  block  away. 

There  are  a large  number  of  hotels  around  here,  but  the  ones  doing 
the  most  business  are  the  (X461,  (X462)  and  (X463)  hotels,  all  at 
the  corner  of  (X464)  and  (X465),  or  a few  doors  away. 

Quite  a number  of  young  girls  come  to  this  cafe  from  the  dances 
and  become  intoxicated. 

At  1 : 00  A.  M.  the  entertainment  promptly  stops,  the  lights  are 
turned  low  and  outside  entrance  to  bar  locked  and  window  shades 
pulled  down.  Most  of  the  people  leave,  but  such  as  are  known  or  are 
invited  by  the  owners  move  to  the  rear  of  the  saloon. 

Any  one  can  gain  admittance  to  this  saloon  after  closing  hours  if 
they  are  known.  The  signal  is  to  knock  on  the  little  door  in  the  hall- 
way, and  if  they  are  not  suspicious  the  person  knocking  is  invited  to 
enter. 

(466)  Cafe  (X467)  West  Madison  street.  House  of  prostitution, 
seven  rooms  over  (X467).  On  police  list.  Two  women,  named  Violet 
and  Rosie  (X469),  owners  of  the  saloon,  said  to  be  (X470)  and 
(X471).  (X472)  owned  place  for  five  years.  In  the  spring  of  this 

year  he  sold  to  (X473),  owner  of  saloon  at  (X474)  South  Halsted 
street.  (X475)  in  turn  sold  to  (X476),  who  is  said  to  own  a house  of 
prostitution  on  (X477)  street.  Later  (X478)  sold  to  (X470)  and 
(X471). 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


137 


One  of  the  waiters  in  this  place  has  a record.  His  name  is  (X481). 
Until  last  summer  he  lived  with  a prostitute  at  (X482)  West  Madison 
street.  She  went  to  Canada,  but  writes  to  him.  When  she  came 
back  he  was  arrested  on  a charge  of  importing  women  for  immoral 
purposes.  He  was  released  on  $5,000.00  bail  furnished  by  (X483), 
for  whom  he  was  working  at  the  time.  The  girl  was  not  allowed  to 
return.  (X484)  was  finally  released  and  the  matter  dropped. 

He  then  became  a cadet  for  a girl  called  (X485),  whose  parents 
live  on  (X486)  avenue.  She  was  a prostitute  in  (X487)  house  at 
(X488)  West  Madison  street.  She  left  the  house  when  (X489) 
left  (X490)  and  (X491)  employ  and  entered  a house  at  (X492)  West 
Madison  street.  She  stayed  there  until  some  time  in  September.  At 
present  she  is  soliciting  at  (X493)  saloon  at  (X494)  South  Halsted 
street. 

(X495),  another  waiter  in  this  cafe,  is  married  and  has  one  child. 
He  has  a prostitute  in  a house  at  (X496)  street ; her  name  is  Fifie.  The 
price  is  50  cents  in  this  house  but  she  gives  him  on  an  average  of 
$6.00  per  day. 

In  July,  1910,  (X497)  was  taken  to  Washington  on  some  charge,  he 
said  it  was  for  buying  stolen  property.  His  friends  took  up  a col- 
lection, and  he  finally  came  back.  (X498)  took  care  of  his  wife  and 
child  while  he  was  away. 

There  is  a chop  suey  restaurant  next  door  to  this  cafe,  with  an 
entrance  to  the  saloon  through  the  kitchen.  There  is  also  an  entrance 
from  the  alley  which  leads  into  a small  rear  room  with  a closet 
connected  with  it.  This  is  said  to  be  the  exclusive  entrance  for  officers. 
Investigator  has  seen  four  officers  in  uniform  in  this  room  at  one 
time,  drinking  bottled  beer,  which  is  in  the  closet. 

Lights  are  out  at  1 : 00  A.  M.,  the  music  stops,  but  no  one  is  asked 
to  leave  if  they  are  known  or  have  not  aroused  any  suspicion.  Others 
enter  after  knocking  on  the  door  leading  from  the  chop  suey  restaurant 
next  door. 

(X499)  Saloon,  (X500)  Dearborn  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Oc- 
tober 26th,  investigator  saw  women  from  the  rooms  over  the 
saloon.  They  called  to  men  at  the  bar  to  buy  them  drinks.  Investi- 
gator was  invited  to  go  upstairs. 

October  29th.  Eight  women  unescorted  in  the  rear  room.  They 
opened  the  door  leading  to  the  bar  and  invited  men  to  enter  the  rear 
room. 

Officer  No.  (X501)  came  into  the  saloon  in  uniform,  but  paid  no 
attention  to  women  in  rear  room.  He  was  given  a bottle  of  beer  which 
he  drank"  at  the  bar.  He  was  there  about  thirty  miutes.  After 
1 ; 00  A.  M.  the  women  went  to  wine  room  upstairs  where  drinks  are 
sold  all  night. 

November  2.  Women  stood  in  doorway  leading  to  rear  room  and 
invited  men  at  the  bar  to  enter.  Investigator  saw  a man  standing  in 
front  of  a saloon  who  was  seen  to  press  an  electric  button  attached 
to  a buzzer,  when  an  officer  approached  the  place. 


138 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Disorderly  Saloons  near  School  Houses.  The  attention  of  the 
Commission  has  been  called  to  several  disorderly  saloons  which  are 
in  close  proximity  to  certain  public  schools.  One  of  the  most  notorious 
is  on  (XSOla)  street.  The  school  property  adjoins  the  lot  on  which 
the  saloon  building  is  erected.  The  distance  from  the  entrance  to  the 
saloon  to  the  entrance  to  the  school  is  eighty-two  steps.  The  distance 
from  the  “ladies’  ” entrance  to  the  saloon  to  the  edge  of  the  school 
property  is  thirty-five  steps. 

On  Saturday,  November  26th,  an  investigator  counted  eighteen 
prostitutes  in  the  rear  room  of  this  saloon.  Five  of  these  women 
solicited  investigator  for  immoral  purposes.  The  bartender  named 
(X502)  has  two  women  who  “hustle”  for  him,  one  in  the  rear  room 
of  this  saloon,  and  one  in  a house  of  prostitution. 

Every  effort  to  secure  the  revocation  of  the  license  has  been  in 
vain.  The  bartender  said  it  did  no  good  to  make  complaints  against 
this  place. 


SUMMARY. 

1.  Some  of  these  disorderly  saloons  are  under  the  control  or  favor 
of  certain  brewers. 

2.  The  facts  show  that  a certain  brewing  company  is  endeavoring 
to  buy  the  licenses  of  saloons  in  the  restricted  district  of  South  Chi- 
cago at  a premium. 

3.  The  president  of  the  Brewers’  Exchange  declares  this  organi- 
zation is  opposed  to  the  sale  of  liquor  in  connection  with  houses  of 
prostitution. 

4.  Brewers  furnish  beer  for  saloons  Avhich  are  disorderly. 

5.  Saloon  keepers  have  a regular  system  of  advertising  their  places, 
by  use  of  cards  and  special  entertainments. 

6.  Some  disorderly  saloons  employ  “ lookouts  ” to  stand  in  front 
and  “ tip  off  ” the  approach  of  police.  They  use  electric  buzzers  and 
hand  signals. 

7.  Proprietors,  bartenders,  waiters  and  entertainers  in  certain  sa- 
loons are  willing  to  aid  in  securing  women  for  houses  of  prostitu- 
tion. 

8.  These  disreputable  saloons  are  frequented  by  panders,  cadets 
and  other  dissolute  and  vicious  men. 

9.  Immoral  and  disgusting  entertainments  are  given  on  a stage  in 
the  rear  rooms  of  certain  disorderly  saloons. 

10.  Professional  escorts  are  hired  by  keepers  of  disorderly  sa- 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  SALOON 


139 


loons  to  sit  with  prostitutes  in  the  rear  rooms  to  evade  the  police 
rules. 

11.  Intoxicated  men  in  rear  rooms  are  often  robbed  by  the  women. 

12.  Degenerate  men  frequent  the  rear  rooms.  Some  are  female 
impersonators  who  solicit  for  drinks  and  endeavor  to  induce  customers 
to  indulge  in  pervert  practices. 

13.  Some  saloons  frequented  by  prostitutes  are  in  the  same  build- 
ing in  which  dances  are  given  by  so-called  pleasure  clubs.  Fre- 
quently the  managers  of  these  dance  halls  are  the  proprietors  of  the 
saloons. 

14.  Children  are  allowed  to  peddle  gum  and  papers  in  certain  dis- 
orderly saloons. 

15.  The  sale  of  beer  in  the  rear  room  when  drunk  in  company 
with  a prostitute  returns  a margin  of  profit  of  nearly  180  per  cent, 
to  the  proprietor  of  the  saloon. 

16.  The  sale  of  counterfeit  drinks  which  are  given  prostitutes 
who  are  drinking  with  men  in  the  rear  room  returns  a margin  of 
profit  of  over  350  per  cent.,  when  the  drink  is  a champagne  cocktail, 
and  a profit  of  over  300  per  cent,  when  the  drink  is  a Manhattan 
cocktail. 

17.  The  margin  of  profit  on  beer  when  sold  to  occupants  of  as- 
signation rooms  over  the  saloon  is  360  per  cent. 

18.  As  a result  of  the  practice  of  using  prostitutes  as  agents  to 
sell  liquor,  the  profits  are  so  large  as  to  be  a source  of  constant  temp- 
tation to  the  police  and  others  in  authority. 

19.  The  rule  regarding  midnight  closing  is  constantly  violated  in 
these  disorderly  saloons 

20.  Certain  police  officers  do  not  report  all  saloons  where  immoral 
and  dissolute  persons  congregate. 

21.  Officers  on  the  beat  and  plain  clothes  men  do  not  enforce 
the  rule  regarding  soliciting  in  rear  rooms,  keeping  open  after  1 : 00 
A.  M.,  etc. 

22.  Certain  police  officers  are  on  friendly  terms  with  “ cadets  ” and 
waiters  who  have  women  soliciting  on  the  street,  in  the  same  saloon  or 
some  other  in  the  vicinity. 

23.  Police  officers  in  uniform  and  plain  clothes  men  frequent 


140 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


disorderly  saloons  and  drink  at  the  bar  and  in  rooms  connected  with 
the  saloons  while  on  duty.  They  have  been  in  saloons  after  1 ; 00 

A.  M. 

24.  Proprietors  of  disorderly  saloons  have  a regular  system  of 
securing  women  to  solicit  men  to  buy  drinks  in  the  rear  rooms,  and 
these  women  are  often  tempted  to  take  up  a life  of  professional  prosti- 
tution, if  they  are  not  doing  so  already. 

25.  Professional  prostitutes  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes  used 
as  adjuncts  to  the  business  of  selling  liquor  in  the  rear  rooms,  in 
connection  with  their  immoral  trade. 

26.  Certain  saloons  are  in  reality  houses  of  prostitution  for  the 
women  actually  live  in  rooms  upstairs,  and  solicit  in  the  rear  rooms 
for  upstairs  trade.  They  pay  a certain  amount  each  week  for  board 
and  room,  to  the  proprietor  of  the  saloon. 

27.  Young  working  girls,  who  are  now  semi-professional  prosti- 
tutes, are  admitted  to  rear  rooms  of  certain  disorderly  saloons. 

28.  In  certain  saloons  the  prostitutes  actually  expose  parts  of  their 
naked  body  and  use  vulgar  and  obscene  language. 

29.  In  some  saloons  the  prostitutes  actually  use  the  same  toilet 
with  the  men. 

30.  Prostitutes  stand  in  doorway  leading  to  rear  rooms  in  cer- 
tain disorderly  saloons  and  solicit  men  at  the  bar. 

31.  Certain  keepers  of  disorderly  saloons  offer  protection  to  pros- 
titutes who  solicit  in  their  rear  rooms.  This  consists  of  paying  fines 
and  bailing  out  the  offenders  who  are  apprehended  by  the  police. 

32.  Efforts  are  being  made,  especially  on  the  North  Side,  to  again 
create  wine  rooms  or  booths  enclosed  by  curtains  in  the  rear  rooms. 

33.  Some  disorderly  saloons  are  within  a short  distance  of  public 
school  buildings,  and  it  seems  utterly  impossible  to  secure  the  revoca- 
tion of  the  licenses  or  persuade  the  proprietors  to  move. 

34.  Exact  data  are  not  at  hand,  but  it  is  estimated  by  a city  official, 
who  is  in  position  to  know,  that  about  25  licenses  have  been  perma- 
nently revoked  on  the  ground  that  disreputable  persons  were  allowed 
to  congregate  in  saloons. 


Chapter  III. 


The  Social  Evil  and 

the  Police. 

/ 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE. 


Whenever  an  attempt  is  made  to  study  the  Social  Evil  problem, 
the  police  become  at  once  the  object  of  interest  and  investigation. 

Before  a just  criticism  can  be  made,  however,  it  is  necessary  to 
investigate  the  causes  that  have  brought  about  conditions  which  the 
police  are  supposed  to  control.  When  this  is  not  done,  well  mean- 
ing persons,  after  a superficial  investigation  of  existing  conditions,  are 
inclined  to  make  the  sweeping  statement  that  the  entire  department  is 
corrupt,  that  all  the  officers  on  the  beat  are  grafters,  and  that  pro- 
tection money  is  paid  to  Inspectors  of  Divisions  and  Captains  of 
Precincts. 

In  order,  therefore,  to  be  fair  in  reporting  upon  the  Police  and  the 
Social  Evil,  it  becomes  necessary,  first,  to  point  out  the  peculiar  condi- 
tions, with  the  underlying  causes  that  exist  in  a city,  and,  second, 
to  show  what  influences  these  conditions  have  had  upon  men  who  are 
sworn  to  enforce  the  law. 

In  the  first  place,  then,  the  laws  now  on  the  statute  books  for  the 
protection  of  society  against  the  Social  Evil  were  enacted  by  legislators, 
the  majority  of  whom  came  from  the  country  districts,  and  who  ex- 
pected them  to  regulate  affairs  in  large  cities  as  well  as  in  country 
towns. 

Unfortunately,  experience  has  shown  that  this  is  quite  impossible. 
The  laws  prohibiting  houses,  of  ill-fame  can  be  and  are  enforced  in  a 
small  community.  But  the  situation  is  more  difficult  in  a city  the 
size  of  Chicago.  Here  an  individual  may,  if  he  chooses,  live  any 
life  he  pleases,  so  far  as  his  pergonal  habits  are  concerned,  and  no 
one  be  the  wiser. 

Often  the  country  man,  who  stands  as  a pillar  of  strength  in  his 
rural  community,  does  not  live  up  to  his  home  standard  when  he 
comes  to  the  city,  and  helps  to  encourage  disregard  for  law,  and  thus 
increases  the  difficulties  of  the  problem.  If  such  a man,  fresh  from 
a town  where  this  law  is  strictly  enforced,  does  not  hesitate  to  violate 
it  when  he  comes  to  the  city,  what  can  be  expected  of  citizens  of 

143 


144 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


the  city,  if  they  look  upon  the  conditions  with  indifference,  and  there- 
by grow  callous  to  the  violation  of  the  law  ? 

Thus  it  has  come  to  pass  that  the  law  against  houses  of  prostitu- 
tion has  become  inoperative  in  cities,  and  in  its  place  has  grown  up  a 
custom  of  tolerance  and  indifference,  which  has  resulted  in  peculiar 
conditions,  strange  to  the  eyes  of  law-abiding  men. 

Is  it  fair,  then,  to  fasten  the  entire  blame  for  such  conditions  upon 
the  police  as  a whole,  who  in  the  last  analysis  are  merely  the  serv^ants 
of  the  people,  and  as  servants  do  their  will? 

But  go  a step  further,  and  see  how  these  conditions  grow  even  more 
complex,  and  difficult  to  handle. 

This  tolerance  and  indifference  toward  the  law  by  the  citizens  have 
gone  so  far  in  Chicago,  that  for  years  the  people  have  seen  develop 
under  their  very  eyes  a system  of  restricted  districts  under  police  reg- 
ulation, the  result  of  which  has  been  to  nullify  the  law,  and  render  it 
inoperative.  In  one  district  a police  regulation  takes  the  place  of  the 
law.  In  another,  the  law  becomes  operative  to  a slight  degree,  while 
in  still  a third  it  is  apparently  enforced. 

So  it  happens  that  the  people  of  Chicago,  by  their  tacit  consent, 
have  put  aside  the  operation  of  the  law,  and  made  it  a thing  to  be 
manipulated  this  way  or  that,  according  to  expediency. 

Again,  it  is  submitted  that  it  is  not  fair  to  lay  the  blame  entirely 
upon  the  police,  the  servants  of  the  people,  who  as  servants,  do  their 
employers’  will. 

As  a result  of  this  attitude  toward  the  law  on  the  part  of  the 
community,  the  police  department  has  been  in  a sense  demoralized  and 
has  come  to  exercise  a discretion  which  was  never  intended  it  should 
have.  . 

One  of  the  Municipal  Court  judges  who  appeared  before  the  Com- 
mission in  a conference  said  that  in  his  opinion  “ it  is  this  discretion 
which  makes  graft  in  the  police  department  possible.  The  law-abiding 
citizen  will  not  pay  graft  to  anyone,  for  the  protection  of  his  busi- 
ness. He  relies  upon  the  law’s  protection.  It  is  only  the  man  who 
is  engaged  in  an  unlawful  business  who  will  pay  graft,  for  the  pro- 
tection of  that  unlawful  business.  We  have  in  every  large  city  in 
this  country  the  anomalous  situation  of  the  police  officers,  the  guard- 
ians of  the  law,  attempting  to  regulate  an  unlawful  business,  a con- 
dition which  is  certain  to  produce  more  or  less  corruption.” 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


145 


The  words  of  this  judge  sum  up  the  situation,  and  if  it  can  be 
shown  that  the  police  have  abused  the  discretion  given  them  by  the 
people;  that  by  their  connivance,  the  Social  Evil  is  fostered  and  al- 
lowed to  grow,  through  bribery  and  corruption,  then  the  facts  should 
be  ascertained  to  the  end  that  the  public  be  aroused  to  its  responsi- 
bility, and  that  such  practices  cease. 

It  is  stated  that  the  police  force  of  Chicago  is  made  up  of  eight 
inspectors  and  4,288  officers,  or  one  policeman  for  every  590  inhab- 
itants. 

No  fair-minded  man  would  say  that  this  large  body  of  men  has 
been  swept  into  this  system  of  bribery  and  corruption  and  that  they 
deliberately  foster  the  Social  Evil.  To  so  affirm  would  be  a libel 
not  only  against  the  Department,  but  against  the  City  of  Chicago. 

But  it  is  within  reason  to  say  that  owing  to  the  peculiar  conditions 
which  the  people  have  allowed  to  exist  so  long  temptations  have  de- 
veloped which  some  have  not  been  able  to  resist. 

These  temptations  have  assailed  officers  in  high  control  and  no  doubt 
some  have  fallen.  Some  men  under  these  officers  have  seen  the 
rewards,  and  no  doubt  they  too  have  fallen.  It  remains  to  show  by 
presentation  of  facts  as  shown  in  the  typical  cases  just  to  what  extent 
these  temptations  have  assailed  members  of  the  police  force,  and  how 
far  the  corrupting  influences  of  the  conditions  of  which  they  are  the 
victims  have  extended. 

EXISTING  CONDITIONS. 

I.  The  Social  Evil  in  Chicago.  The  evil  of  prostitution  finds  its 
most  acute  expression  in  Chicago  in  the  following  ways : In  recog- 
nized houses  in  so-called  restricted  districts;  in  semi-recognized  flats 
in  residential  districts;  in  assignation  hotels,  in  restricted,  residential 
and  business  districts;  in  rear  rooms  of  saloons,  in  assignation  rooms 
over  saloons,  in  restricted,  residential  and  business  districts,  and  on 
the  street  in  restricted,  residential,  and  business  districts. 

II.  Police  Rules  and  Regulations.  When  the  present  General  Su- 
perintendent of  Police  was  appointed,  he  found  that  there  were  cer- 
tain so-called  restricted  districts,  where  the  operation  of  the  law  had 
been  nullified  by  custom  and  precedent.  Under  such  conditions,  he 


146 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


felt  that  in  order  to  lessen  as  far  as  could  be  the  evil  influences  of 
prostitution,  the  best  he  could  do  would  be  to  issue  certain  rules  and 
regulations  for  the  guidance  of  the  police  and  demand  that  they  be 
obeyed. 

These  Rules  and  Regulations  were  issued  on  April  29,  1910.^ 

In  transmitting  these  rules  and  regulations,  the  General  Superin- 
tendent of  Police  issued  certain  instructions  to  the  inspectors.  In 
these  instructions  he  said : 

“In  order  that  there  may  be  no  misunderstanding,  the  inten- 
tion of  this  order  is  to  absolutely  divorce  the  liquor  traffic  from 
prostitution,  professional  or  casual. 

“Saloons  that  are  adjacent  to  resorts  shall  have  all  connection 
absolutely  and  permanently  barred;  nor  will  saloons  be  permitted 
to  sell  drinks  to  be  carried  into  resorts. 

“A  general  announcement  on  this  matter  some  weeks  since  has 
given  all  interested  ample  time  to  dispose  of  stock  on  hand.  All 
should  be  given  to  understand  that  those  offending  in  this  regard 
may  expect  that  their  place  shall  be  immediately  and  permanently 
closed. 

“In  order  to  insure  the  practical  abolition  of  this  liquor  traffic 
as  referred  to  above,  the  patrolmen  on  the  posts  must  watch 
all  known  suspected  places,  and  report  to  their  commanding  of- 
ficer wherever  the  delivery  of  goods,  or  any  suspicious  incident 
suggests,  that  the  place  should  be  investigated.  A report  is  ex- 
pected from  each  inspector  as  made  to  him  by  his  subordinates 
each  month,  stating  just  what  has  been  done  and  the  conditions 
existing  in  his  division  at  the  time  of  report. 

“In  a word  it  is  to  be  absolutely  understood  that  this  regula- 
tion is  permanent  and  complete,  and  must  be  rigorously  enforced, 
and  permanently  and  faithfully  observed.” 

III.  Police  Records.  As  the  business  of  the  police  department 
regarding  the  Social  Evil  is  to  enforce  the  law,  and  the  rules  and 
regulations  in  districts  where  the  law  has  become  inoperative,  it  Is  nat- 
ural to  suppose  that  all  places  where  the  regulations  are  being  violated, 
or  where  there  is  a suspicion  of  violation  would  be  known  and  clas- 
sified by  the  Department. 

With  this  in  mind,  the  investigation  of  the  Social  Evil  as  under- 
taken by  the  Commission  was  based  upon  a list  of  such  places,  fur- 
nished by  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police.  This  list  was  made 
up  from  the  reports  of  Inspectors  throughout  the  city,  as  to  condi- 

ipor  text  of  Rules,  see  Appendix  XXL 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


147 


tions  found  by  their  supbordinates  in  their  different  police  divisions. 
This  list  was  received  August  16,  1910. 

An  analysis  of  this  list  showed,  briefly,  that  there  were  142  houses 
of  prostitution  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  known  to  the  police  of  seven 
different  precincts,  namely,  the  3d,  4th,  12th,  15th,  27th,  28th  and 
38th.  These  houses  harbored  860  inmates  and  142  madames  or  keep- 
ers, making  a total  of  1,002  women  engaged  in  this  business  in  recog- 
nized houses.  In  addition,  the  list  gave  549  inmates  in  261  flats  located 
at  181  separate  addresses  with  261  madames  or  keepers,  making  a total 
of  810  women  engaged  in  this  business  in  flats.  The  record  further 
stated  that  there  were  51  hotels  which  cater  to  an  immoral  trade. 
Thirty-eight  of  these  places  were  conducted  by  men  and  13  by  women. 
This  made  a grand  total  of  1,825  women  engaged  in  the  business  of 
prostitution,  according  to  the  police  list,  either  as  inmates  or  keepers, 
at  374  separate  addresses. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  no  saloons  where  immoral  and  dissolute 
persons  congregate  were  given  as  such  in  this  list.  Which  fact  was 
quite  contrary  to  the  instructions  issued  by  the  General  Superintendent 
of  Police  when  transmitting  the  new  rules  and  regulations  to  the 
inspectors. 

With  this  list  as  a basis,  a field  investigation  was  undertaken.  From 
July  15th  to  September  30th  inclusive  the  investigators  found  356 
houses,  hotels,  flats  and  assignation  rooms.  They  counted  370  prosti- 
tutes connected  with  150  of  these  places,  and  were  solicited  by  150 
different  women  for  immoral  purposes.  Of  the  150  places  where 
prostitution  existed,  45  were  on  the  police  list  and  105  were  not. 
Of  the  78  houses,  hotels,  flats  and  assignation  rooms  discovered  by 
saloon  investigators,  and  which  were  not  in  the  same  building  with  the 
saloon,  four  were  on  the  police  list,  45  were  not,  and  29  were  doubtful, 
as  the  addresses  were  not  secured.  This  made  a total  of  150  ad- 
dresses of  this  character,  which  the  police  apparently  had  no  record 
of. 

During  this  same  period  investigators  secured  information  concern- 
ing 275  saloons.  They  counted  779  women  who  were  frequenting 
these  saloons,  and  were  solicited  for  immoral  purposes  by  more  than 
206  different  prostitutes  in  206  different  saloons.  Of  the  275  saloons 
visited,  46  were  on  the  police  list  and  229  were  not,  making  a grand 


148 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


total  of  379  places  where  immoral  and  dissolute  persons  actually  con- 
gregated or  where  there  was  a strong  suspicion  of  such  conditions, 
which  were  not  on  the  police  list  received  August  16,  1910. 

In  view  of  the  facts  brought  out  by  the  field  of  investigation,  it  was 
thought  that  the  list  received  August  16,  1910,  was  incomplete,  and 
did  not  give  an  accurate  account  of  the  conditions  prevailing  through- 
out the  city.  The  General  Superintendent  of  Police  felt  the  same  way 
and  ordered  another  list  prepared  for  the  Commission. 

The  new  list  was  received  on  October  26,  1910. 

It  is  interesting  to  compare  the  police  list  received  on  October  26th 
with  the  previous  list  received  on  August  16th.  An  analysis  of  the 
list  received  October  26th,  shows  that  there  are  192  houses  of  pros- 
titution (August  list,  142)  with  2,343  rooms,  in  7 different  precincts 
(August  list,  5)  with  1,012,  inmates  (August  list,  860),  and  189 
madames  or  keepers  (August  list,  142).  In  addition  the  list  gives  272 
flats  (August  list,  261)  with  960  rooms  at  151  separate  addresses 
(August  list,  181)  with  419  inmates  (August  list,  594),  and  252  keep- 
ers (August  list,  261). 

The  list  also  contains  the  addresses  of  42  hotels  (August  list,  51) 
with  1,222  rooms  which  cater  to  an  immoral  trade,  and  among  the 
keepers  are  8 women  (August  list,  13).  This  makes  a grand  total  of 
1,880  women  (August  list,  1,825)  engaged  in  the  business  of  prosti- 
tution, either  as  inmates  or  keepers  at  385  separate  addresses.  (Au- 
gust list,  374.)  These  houses,  flats  and  hotels,  contain  4,525  rooms 
used  for  immoral  purposes.  There  seems  to  be  some  confusion  in  the 
minds  of  inspectors  regarding  the  order  from  the  General  Superintend- 
ent of  Police  to  report  disorderly  places  in  the  precincts  within  their 
particular  districts.  One  inspector  said  that  such  a list  is  kept,  but  the 
places  are  not  reported  to  headquarters  unless  asked  for.  Two  other 
inspectors  said  that  there  is  an  order  for  each  inspector  to  report  all 
disorderly  places  found  in  the  different  police  precincts  each  month, 
and  these  reports  should  include  all  saloons  frequented  by  prostitutes. 

The  list  received  from  police  headquarters  on  October  26th  contained 
the  addresses  of  15  hotels  and  9 houses  in  the  2nd  police  precinct; 

2 hotels,  107  houses  and  42  flats  in  the  3rd  police  precinct;  3 houses 
and  101  flats  in  the  4th  precinct;  25  houses  in  the  15th  precinct; 

3 hotels,  38  houses,  and  59  flats  in  the  27th  precinct;  3 hotels  and  34 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


149 


flats  in  the  28th  precinct;  19  hotels,  10  houses,  and  36  flats  in  the 
38th  precinct. 

Of  this  number  which  were  on  the  police  list,  3 hotels  and  9 houses 
were  investigated  in  the  2nd  precinct;  13  flats  in  the  4th  precinct; 
9 houses  in  the  15th  precinct;  3 hotels,  22  houses  and  1 flat  in  the 
27th  precinct ; 2 hotels,  2 houses,  and  1 flat  in  the  28th  precinct ; 
16  hotels,  8 houses  and  15  flats  in  the  38  precinct. 

The  saloon  investigation  revealed  the  fact  that  there  were  a large 
number  of  hotels,  flats  and  houses  in  these  precincts,  which  were  not 
on  the  police  list  as  follows : 

In  the  3d  precinct,  10  hotels,  6 over  saloons  and  4 nearby;  8 flats, 
5 over  saloons  and  3 nearby ; and  1 house  over  a saloon. 

In  the  4th  precinct,  2 places  with  assignation  rooms,  1 over  saloon, 
and  1 nearby. 

In  the  15th  precinct,  3 places  with  assignation  rooms,  over  the 
saloons,  and  13  houses  over  saloons. 

In  the  27th  precinct,  14  hotels,  6 over  saloons,  and  8 nearby;  50 
assignation  rooms  or  flats,  38  over  saloons  and  12  nearby,  and  6 houses 
over  saloons. 

In  the  38th  precinct,  19  hotels,  15  over  saloons,  4 nearby;  35  as- 
signation rooms  or  flats,  18  over  saloons  and  17  nearby;  and  1 house 
over  saloon. 

In  addition  to  this,  investigators  have  found  disorderly  places  in 
police  precincts,  reports  of  which  have  not  apparently  been  received  at 
police  headquarters.  These  are  as  follows : 

In  the  1st  precinct,  25  hotels  and  2 assignation  rooms  or  flats. 

In  the  5th  precinct,  2 hotels,  12  assignation  rooms  or  flats,  and  1 
house. 

In  the  8th  precinct,  1 hotel. 

In  the  10th  precinct,  1 flat  and  1 house. 

In  the  11th  precinct,  4 hotels  and  9 assignation  rooms  or  flats. 

In  the  12th  precinct,  1 hotel  and  4 assignation  rooms  or  flats. 

In  the  17th  precinct,  13  assignation  rooms  or  flats. 

In  the  19th  precinct,  10  assignation  rooms  or  flats. 

In  the  39th  precinct,  3 hotels,  6 assignation  rooms  or  flats,  and  2 
houses. 


150 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


In  the  41st  precinct,  1 flat. 

The  above,  of  course,  only  include  places  which  we  actually  in- 
vestigated. There  are  others. 

In  other  words,  the  investigation  of  236  saloons  in  all  the  pre- 
cincts, namely  the  1st,  2d,  3rd,  4th,  15th,  27th,  28th,  38th,  5th,  8th,  10th, 
11th,  12th,  17th,  19th,  39th,  and  41st,  led  to  the  location  of  33  hotels 
over  saloons,  37  hotels,  not  over  saloons,  82  assignation  rooms  or  flats 
over  saloons,  60  not  over  saloons  and  24  houses  over  saloons.^ 

In  addition,  an  investigation  of  precincts  where  no  places  were  re- 
ported and  independent  of  saloons  showed  8 hotels  in  the  1st  precinct; 
1 house  and  8 assignation  rooms  or  flats  in  the  5th  precinct;  1 hotel 
and  4 assignation  rooms  or  flats  in  the  11th  precinct;  1 hotel  and  1 
flat  in  the  12th  precinct;  1 hotel  and  1 house  and  2 flats  in  the  39th 
precinct.^ 

The  above  facts  show  beyond  question,  one  of  two  things,  first, 
that  the  inspectors  of  police  divisions  or  captains  of  police  precincts 
in  these  divisions  are  ignorant  of  conditions  as  they  actually  exist 
in  their  districts,  or  second,  that  they  have  withheld  the  exact  in- 
formation asked  for  by  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police.  From 
these  facts  the  reader  can  draw  his  own  conclusions  as  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  police  of  these  conditions. 

At  this  point,  we  discover  a weak  spot  in  the  administration  of  law 
and  regulations  by  the  Police  Department,  as  they  apply  to  the  Social 
Evil  in  Chicago.  The  remedy  is  so  obvious  it  need  not  be  stated. 

IV.  The  Police  Officer  on  the  Beat.  The  police  officer  on  the  beat 
is  nearer  the  Social  Evil  conditions  than  any  other  official  in  the  City  of 
Chicago.  He  is,  therefore,  subject  in  a peculiar  way  to  the  tempta- 
tions of  the  system  as  it  exists.  Upon  him  falls  the  heaviest  burden 
of  criticism.  His  attitude  toward  the  law  and  regulations  can  easily 
be  ascertained.  It  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  he  reflects  in  some 
degree  the  attitude  of  his  superiors  toward  the  law  and  regulations. 

If  this  is  true,  the  inspectors  and  captains  do  not  tell  the  truth 
when  they  plead  ignorance  of  the  actions  of  their  subordinates,  and 
one  can  hardly  suppose  these  men  are  ignorant  of  things  that  any  citi- 
zen, who  takes  the  trouble,  may  see. 

In  order  to  show  as  clearly  as  possible  to  what  extent  the  “police 


iTable  I. 
2Tables  II-IV. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


151 


officer  on  the  beat”  is  influenced  by  custom,  or  by  his  superiors,  or 
whatever  prevents  law  enforcement  against  certain  phases  of  the 
evil,  a few  of  the  facts  as  found  are  given  below  under  different  head- 
ings. 

In  every  case  mentioned  the  place  and  number  of  the  officer  is 
omitted  and  signs  such  as  XI — XI 1 — inserted.  It  should  be  borne 
in  mind  that  these  instances  do  not  represent  an  investigation  of  all 
houses,  saloons,  hotels,  flats  or  streets  frequented  by  prostitutes,  but 
only  such  as  the  money,  time  and  authority  at  the  command  of  the 
Commission  felt  would  be  indicative  of  the  conditions  as  applying 
to  the  whole.  Following  these  specific  instances,  general  observations 
are  given. 


TYPICAL  CASES. 

V.  Houses,  Assignation  Hotels  and  Flats.  On  August  16th,  a look- 
out stood  in  front  of  (X504),  at  the  corner  of  West  (X504a)  street 
and  (X505)  street.  Two  inmates  of  the  houses  next  to  the  saloon 
were  soliciting  from  the  windows  of  the  resort.  Officer  No.  (X505a) 
approached  from  (X505b)  street.  The  lookout  stepped  to  the  door  of 
the  saloon,  placed  his  hand  behind  a brass  shield  over  the  post,  and 
a bell  was  heard  to  ring  in  the  building.  As  soon  as  he  did  this,  he 
hurried  to  the  windows,  and  motioned  to  the  women  who  were  so- 
liciting. A moment  later  the  officer  came  to  the  corner  and  the 
lookout  greeted  him  with  “Hello  (X506),”  and  (X506)  stood  chatting 
with  him  for  some  time. 

Officers  Nos.  (X508)  and  (X509)  were  standing  on  the  corner 
near  a furnished  room  house  in  the  afternoon,  while  investigator  was 
solicited  by  a woman  standing  in  the  doorway. 

VI.  Houses,  Assignation  Hotels  and  Flats — General.  On  Augpjst 
25th  a new  force  of  officers  in  uniform  and  plain  clothes  men  came 
into  the  22nd  street  district.  It  was  interesting  to  note  in  a general 
way  the  reception  of  these  men  by  saloon  keepers,  cadets  and  look- 
outs connected  with  the  resorts.  For  some  time  one  of  the  new  men 
in  uniform  stood  on  the  corner  of  (X510)  and  (X511)  streets,  and 
held  a conversation  with  four  young  men,  one  of  whom  was  the 
lookout  who  tipped  off  the  women  soliciting  from  windows  at  (X512) 
avenue.  Another  was  a cadet  who  sings  in  the  concert  room  of  a 
saloon  frequented  by  prostitutes  at  the  corner  of  West  (X513)  and 
(X513a),  next  to  (X514)  avenue.  Other  receptions  were  held  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  district;  on  the  corner  and  at  the  entrance  of  the 
(X515),  the  (X516),  corner  of  (X517)  and  (X518)  streets,  and  near 
the  piolice  signal  box,  corner  of  (X519)  and  (X520)  streets.  One  de- 
tective, who  had  been  in  the  district,  and  who  was  evidently  to  be  trans- 


152 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ferred,  walked  through  the  district  with  a man,  who  appeared  to  be  his 
successor. 

One  night  during  October,  investigator  was  in  a house  of  prosti- 
tution in  ,the  same  building  with  a saloon  on  the  corner  of  (X521) 
and  (X522)  streets.  While  in  here  two  officers  in  plain  clothes  en- 
tered and  talked  with  the  girls;  two  glasses  of  beer  were  standing 
on  a table,  at  which  sat  a man  and  one  of  the  inmates.  The  officers 
paid  no  attention  to  the  matter. 

The  (X523),  at  (X524),  (X524a)  Dearborn  street.  This  is  prob- 
ably the  most  famous  and  luxurious  house  of  prostitution  in  the 
country.  The  list  received  from  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police 
on  August  16,  1910,  did  not  give  the  address  of  this  house,  nor  of 
eleven  other  similar  places  on  the  street.  The  revised  list  received 
October  26th,  did  mention  the  place,  as  well  as  the  others. 

On  January  15th  a man  stayed  all  night  in  a house  of  prostitution 
at  (X525)  avenue.  On  January  16th,  he  returned  to  this  house  with 
two  plain  clothes  men  and  told  the  landlady  that  he  had  been  robbed 
of  $50  the  night  before  by  one  of  the  inmates.  The  landlady  was  in- 
dignant and  said  to  the  officers  in  the  hearing  of  the  investigator  that 
“I  am  telling  you  that  that  man  did  not  have  that  much  money  on 
him,  and  I don’t  see  why  you  are  bothering  me,  for  protection  was 
just  paid  two  days  ago.” 

The  man  wanted  the  inmate  arrested,  but  the  officers  said  he 
would  have  to  swear  out  a warrant.  No  warrant  was  served. 

VII.  Street  Soliciting.  On  the  evening  of  August  19th,  between 
9:  30  and  10:  15  investigator  counted  six  (6)  prostitutes  soliciting  men 
on  the  north  side  of  (X526),  between  (X527)  and  (X528).  They 
took  the  men  to  a hotel  over  a storeroom  marked  47-49  (X529).  At 
10  o’clock,  officer  No.  (X530)  stood  alone  at  the  comer,  when  two  of 
the  prostitutes  stopped  two  men  and  walked  with  them  to  the  entrance 
of  the  hotel. 

a.  Downtown.  On  September  25th,  between  10:  10  and  10:  50  P. 
M.  investigator  was  solicited  by  Miss  (X531),  Rosie  (X532),  and 
Josie,  on  streets  in  the  downtown  district.  Josie  was  standing  at  the 
corner  of  (X533)  and  (X534),  near  the  (X535)  store.  This  was 
11 : 45  P.  M.  Officer  No.  (X536)  stood  at  corner  about  10  feet  away. 
The  girl  Josie  spoke  to  a cabman,  and  went  into  the  (X535)  store. 
Officer  spoke  to  investigator  about  the  weather,  then  about  girl.  Of- 
ficer went  into  (X535)  store  and  spoke  to  the  girl.  He  came  back  in 
a few  moments,  and  said  that  she  was  a nice  girl.  During  this  time 
women  were  soliciting  across  the  street  and  officer  took  no  notice 
of  it. 

On  September  25th,  between  10 : 10  and  10 : 50  P.  M.  investigator 
was  solicited  on  (X537),  between  (X538)  and  (X539)  streets  by  six 
different  women.  Rose,  Mignon,  Bete,  Violet,  Tantine  and  Marcella. 
Two  of  them  wanted  to  go  to  (X540)  hotel,  (X541)  avenue,  two  to 
the  (X542)  hotel,  (X513)  street,  and  to  any  place  investigator  de- 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


153 


sired.  While  talking  to  these  girls  a sergeant  of  police  and  officer  No. 
(X544)  talked  together  at  corner  of  (X545)  and  (X546)  streets.  They 
took  no  notice  of  solicitation.  One  of  the  girls  told  investigator  that 
the  police  do  not  interfere  with  them. 

IX.  Sreet  Soliciting — General. 

a.  North  Side.  September  11,  10:  30  until  11:  30  P.  M.  Saw  4 
different  girls  soliciting  on  North  (X546a),  from  (X546b)  to  In- 
diana. Two  officers  passed. 

September  10th.  1:  30  to  2:  00  A.  M.  Nine  girls  soliciting  from 
(X546c)  to  (X546d).  Saw  one  policeman. 

September  9th.  10  to  10:  30  P.  M.  Seven  girls  soliciting  on  (X546e) 
from  (X546f)  to  Erie.  Saw  one  officer. 

September  8th.  9 to  10:  00  P.  M.  Ten  girls  on  (X546g)  from 
(X546h)  to  (X546i)  avenue.  No  officer  in  sight. 

September  9th.  9 to  9 : 30  P.  M.  Fourteen  girls  soliciting  on  corner 
of  (546j)  and  North  Clark.  No  officer  in  sight. 

September  9th.  8:  15  to  8:  40  P.  M.  Seven  women  on  La  Salle 
Nelly  solicited  investigator  to  go  to  (X548)  Hotel,  (X549)  La  Salle. 
No  officer  in  sight. 

b.  West  Side.  September  6th.  During  period  of  15  minutes  3 
girls  soliciting  on  (X546k)  between  (X5461)  and  Sangamon.  No  offi- 
cer in  sight. 

September  6th.  During  period  of  15  minutes,  7 girls  soliciting  on 
(X546m)  from  (X546n)  to  Peoria.  No  officer  in  sight. 

September  1st.  10:  30  P.  M.,  3 girls  soliciting  on  Monroe  between 
(X546o)  and  Halsted.  One  girl  talked  to  two  officers  near  rear  door 
of  (X547)  saloon.  A few  minutes  later  police  officer  and  a sergeant 
came  east  on  Monroe  street,  and  all  girls  disappeared. 

September  2nd.  10:  30  to  11  P.  M.  Nine  girls  on  (X547a)  from 
(X547b)  to  Morgan.  No  officer  in  sight. 

September  23rd.  9 : 30  to  11 : 30  P.  M.  Investigator  was  solicited 
by  14  different  girls  in  vicinity  of  (X549a)  avenue,  between  (X549b) 
and  (X549c).  Eight  solicited  for  Hotel  (X550),  (X551)  avenue,  and 
6 to  Hotel  (X552),  (X553)  street.  One  officer  at  (X553a)  and 
(X553b),  but  he  stayed  only  a moment,  and  walked  toward  (X553c). 

c.  South  Side  from  East  2jrd  to  6^rd  street. 

September  26th.  (X553d)  street  and  Indiana  avenue,  Violet  (X554), 
Lives  on  Prairie  avenue.  Fairly  well  educated.  About  19  years, 
would  go  to  hotel.  Officer  stood  on  northeast  corner  (X553d)  street 
at  time  investigator  was  approached. 

Saloons.  August  27th.  Officer  No.  (X555)  was  drinking  at  bar 
at  No.  (X556)  Wells  street  (not  on  police  list).  Bartender  told  in- 
vestigator the  girls  were  having  an  off  night.  He  should  come  around 
and  get  Violet,  the  best  on  the  street  for  $1.  Room  upstairs. 

August  31st.  Officer  (X557),  called  into  (X558)  West  Randolph 
street  (not  on  police  list).  He  drank  a pint  of  beer  at  the  bar.  There 
are  assignation  rooms  over  the  saloon. 


154 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


September  7th.  Officer  No.  (X559)  was  seen  in  saloon  at  (X560) 
West  Madison  street  (not  on  police  list),  drinking  bottle  of  beer.  Ger- 
trude stood  at  the  end  of  the  bar  leading  to  rear  room,  and  invited 
investigator  to  buy  her  a drink.  She  afterwards  solicited  him  to  go  to 
a room. 

September  23rd.  Officer  No.  (X561)  entered  saloon  at  (X562) 
State  street  (not  on  police  list).  The  proprietor,  (X563),  gave  the 
officer  two  cigars.  He  left  in  a few  moments  after  warning  all  the 
people  in  the  rear  room  to  keep  quiet.  Five  prostitutes  were  in  the 
rear  room.  One  by  the  name  of  Kitty  solicited  investigator  to  go  to 
(X564)  hotel,  (X564a)  State  street.  The  rear  room  of  this  saloon 
was  open  and  drinks  served  after  1 A.  M. 

September  14th.  Officer  No.  (X565)  was  leaning  against  the  bar 
in  a saloon  at  (X566)  avenue  (not  on  police  list). 

September  14th.  (X567)  Lake  (X568).  Not  on  police  list.  A sus- 
picious saloon.  Officer  No.  (X569)  was  leaning  against  the  bar. 

(X570)  37th  street.  Not  on  police  list.  Investigator  in  here  with 
Mignon  (X571),  a street  walker.  Officer  came  into  rear  room  and 
went  through  to  bar.  Stayed  there  all  the  time  investigator  was  in  the 
place. 

(X572)  Strand.  Saloon,  house  of  prostitution  upstairs.  On  police 
list.  Two  officers  on  the  beat  and  both  seem  to  be  especially  friendly 
with  people  in  the  house,  came  in  and  looked  around.  Two  women  in 
rear  room.  One  escorted.  Officers  were  offered  drinks  and  cigars  but 
did  not  accept.  Afterwards  they  were  invited  to  go  upstairs  by  the 
proprietors. 

(X573)  South  Halsted  street  (not  on  police  list).  Investigator 
matched  pennies  for  drinks  with  officer  No.  (X574)  in  this  saloon. 

(X575)  Halsted  street  (not  on  police  list.)  Investigator  had  drink 
with  officer  No.  (X576)  in  this  saloon.  The  rear  room  is  frequented 
by  prostitutes.  One  of  these  is  Gertrude,  age  18. 

(X577)  Root  street  (not  on  police  list).  Investigator  was  solicited 
by  Minnie  to  go  upstairs.  Saw  two  officers.  Nos.  (X578)  and  (X579) 
drinking  beer  in  this  place. 

(X580)  South  State  street.  At  1 : 30  A.  M.  an  officer  No.  (X581) 
walked  along  22nd  street,  and  tried  the  front  door  of  saloons.  Finally 
he  stopped  in  front  of  the  side  entrance  of  saloon  at  (X582)  South 
State  streeb  This  entrance  is  on  22nd  street.  While  he  stood  there 
11  men  and  women  went  through  this  side  entrance  into  the  saloon. 
He  paid  no  attention  to  the  matter. 

This  same  officer  walked  west  on  22nd  street,  and  tried  the  front 
door  of  the  (X583)  Cafe,  on  the  corner  of  West  (X584)  street  and 
(X585)  street.  The  side  door  on  (X585)  street  was  open,  and  music 
and  singing  could  be  heard.  While  officer  stood  on  the  corner,  2 men 
and  1 woman  went  through  the  side  door. 

(X587)  avenue.  (Not  on  police  list.)  Conducted  by  colored  men. 
White  women  soliciting.  Investigator  here  until  4 A.  M.  Two  of- 
ficers passed  on  street  twice  while  investigator  was  in  room  upstairs. 
Music  and  dancing. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


155 


(X588)  Wabash  avenue  (not  on  police  list).  October  8th  at  2:  33 
A.  M.  officer  No.  (X589)  knocked  on  the  side  door  of  this  saloon 
and  was  admitted.  The  officer  seemed  to  be  well  known  to  the  pro- 
prietor. When  he  came  in,  he  went  to  the  closet.  Later  the  inves- 
tigator saw  him  in  the  closet  sitting  on  the  box  drinking  a bottle  of 
beer.  At  2;  40  A.  M.  another  officer  came  in  through  the  side  door 
and  joined  the  other  officer  in  the  closet.  The  waiter  called  him 
(X590). 

Jim  (X591),  a waiter,  in  speaking  of  the  two  officers,  said  they 
came  in  every  night  about  that  time,  2 : 40  A.  M. 

(X592)  saloon,  (X593)  Dearborn  street  (not  on  police  list).  This 
saloon  is  connected  with  a house  of  prostitution.  On  October  29th, 
8 unescorted  women  were  soliciting  in  the  rear  room.  They  opened 
the  door  leading  to  the  bar  and  asked  investigator  to  come  back. 
Officer  No.  (X594)  came  into  the  saloon  in  uniform,  but  paid  no 
attention  to  the  women  in  the  rear  room.  He  was  given  a bottle  of 
beer,  which  he  drank  at  the  bar.  He  was  there  about  30  minutes. 
After  1 A.  M.  the  women  went  to  the  wine  room  upstairs  where  drinks 
are  sold  all  night. 

November  2nd.  (X595)  saloon,  (X596)  Dearborn  street  (not  on 
police  list).  Wornen  stood  in  doorway  leading  to  rear  room,  and 
invited  men  at  bar  to  enter.  Investigator  saw  a man  standing  in 
front  of  a saloon  who  pushed  an  electric  button  attached  to  a buzzer 
when  an  officer  approached  the  place. 

November  20th.  (X597)  Buffet,  (X598)  Wabash  avenue.  The  pro- 
prietor offered  to  secure  women  for  houses  of  prostitution  in  China. 
Assignation  rooms  over  saloon.  Prostitutes  solicit  in  the  rear  room. 
On  this  date,  officer  in  uniform.  No.  (X599),  came  in  and  asked  for 
beer  and  cigars,  for  which  he  did  not  pay. 

XI.  Saloons- — General.  August  11th.  The  police  ordered  the  sa- 
loon at  (X600)  West  Lake  street  closed  to  women.  On  the  evening 
of  this  day  investigator  was  solicited  in  this  resort.  While  there  he 
saw  a woman  and  a man  in  the  toilet  room  at  the  same  time.  (Saloon 
not  on  police  list). 

August  23rd.  Investigator  again  visited  saloon  at  (X600)  West 
Lake  street,  which  had  been  ordered  closed,  and  in  which  he  had  been 
solicited  on  August  11th,  and  saw  four  prostitutes  in  the  rear  room. 
He  was  solicited  to  go  upstairs  by  a woman  who  said  her  name  was 
Trixy. 

On  August  11th,  the  police  were  ordered  to  close  the  saloon  at 
(X602)  West  Lake  street  (not  on  police  list)  to  women.  On  the 
evening  of  this  date,  investigator  was  solicited  by  Frances  to  go  up- 
stairs. Frances  said  the  rest  of  the  women  connected  with  the  place 
were  upstairs. 

On  August  19th,  the  saloon  at  (X602)  West  Lake  street  was  again 
visited.  Investigator  was  solicited  to  go  upstairs,  this  time  by  Jennie. 
Three  other  girls  were  in  the  concert  room  at  this  time. 

August  16th.  Police  officer  in  uniform  was  seen  by  investigator 


156 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


to  take  a drink  of  whiskey  in  saloon  at  (X604)  Peoria  street  (not 
on  police  list).  Prostitutes  frequent  the  rear  room. 

August  23rd.  Lillian  solicited  investigator  in  saloon  at  (X607) 
North  Clark  street  (not  on  police  list).  While  talking  to  her  a police 
officer  came  in  and  talked  with  the  girls  at  another  table.  The  girls 
called  him  (X608),  said  he  was  a good  sport  and  drinks  with  them. 

August  23rd.  Bartender  in  saloon  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
(X609)  and  (X610)  streets  spoke  of  a poker  game  going  on  in  the 
rear  room,  and  stated  the  police  did  not  bother.  While  in  here  investi- 
gator saw  two  prostitutes,  and  was  solicited  by  Hazel  to  go  to  an 
assignation  house  in  middle  of  block. 

September  16th.  (X611)  North  Clark  street.  (On  police  list). 

Officer  entered  this  saloon  at  12 : 45  A.  M.  and  drank  a bottle  of  beer ; 
talked  with  bartender  about  10  minutes. 

September  27th.  Vaudeville  performance  in  the  rear  of  (X612) 
Halsted  street  (not  on  police  list).  Twenty-three  women  were  in  this 
place,  most  of  therh  vulgar  and  dirty.  One  woman  with  her  breasts 
exposed  sat  in  balcony  with  a man  at  a table.  Two  plain  clothes 
men  on  floor  below  looked  up  at  her,  but  made  no  sign. 

September  24th.  A lieutenant  of  police,  whom  men  in  saloon 
called  (X613)  drank  beer  in  saloon  at  (X614)  avenue  (not  on  police 
list).  A young  man  in  the  place  said  that  he,  the  lieutenant,  was  a 
good  sport,  and  as  long  as  the  saloon  keepers  used  him  all  right  he 
was  O.  K. 

(X615)  Wabash  avenue  (not  on  police  list).  October  31st  at  2 : 30 
A.  M.  place  was  crowded  at  this  hour,  and  several  persons  were  in- 
toxicated. Two  strangers,  who  had  the  appearance  of  being  farmers, 
were  with  two  prostitutes.  They  complained  to  the  waiter  that 
he  had  overcharged  them,  and  proceeded  to  argue  with  him,  about 
the  right  price  for  drinks.  They  were  ejected  from  the  saloon. 
Later  they  returned  with  two  officers,  who  called  the  waiter  and  spoke 
a few  words  to  him. 

The  officer  then  turned  to  the  farmers  and  told  them  to  “ beat 
it  or  they  would  be  arrested.”  The  men  appeared  surprised,  and 
finally  left  as  one  of  the  officers  was  about  to  hit  one  of  them  with  his 
club.  The  two  officers  then  entered  the  cafe,  and  holding  their  hands 
over  their  stars,  went  to  the  rear  closet,  took  their  uniform  coats 
off,  and  put  on  ordinary  coats,  which  were  much  too  small  for  them. 
They  then  took  off  their  helmets  and  sat  down  with  the  same  prosti- 
tutes who  had  been  drinking  with  the  two  farmers.  They  did  not 
pay  for  their  drinks.  Investigator  recognized  them  as  being  two  who 
were  patrolling  the  district.  The  following  men  witnessed  the  action 
of  the  officers : 

(X616)  North  Shore  avenue. 

(X617)  Ashland  boulevard. 

November  10.  The  attitude  of  police  towards  the  cadets  may  be 
seen  from  the  following  incident.  A woman  by  the  name  of  Frances 
(X618),  who  solicits  in  cafes  on  South  Halsted  street,  was  sick  and 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 


157 


went  to  her  room  about  11 : 00  P.  M.  Her  cadet — a waiter  in  (X619) 
saloon  at  (X620)  South  Halsted  street,  followed  and  had  a fight  with 
her.  When  seen  by  investigator  she  was  bleeding  from  her  mouth,  her 
hands  were  lacerated,  and  her  clothes  almost  torn  off. 

Two  detectives  were  called.  They  did  not  attempt  to  go  into  the 
room  or  arrest  the  “ cadet.”  After  the  fight  was  over  the  girl  came 
out,  and  one  of  the  officers  told  her  that  she  would  have  to  take  her 
trunk  and  leave  the  next  day.  One  of  the  other  women  took  her  to  a 
hotel  for  the  rest  of  the  night. 

; November  26th.  While  investigator  was  standing  at  the  bar  of 
saloon  at  (X620a)  Wells  street  talking  to  (X621),  the  bartender,  two 
men  came  in  who  appeared  from  their  conversation,  to  be  plain  clothes 
officers.  They  were  telling  (X622),  the  proprietor,  about  a man  named 
(X623),  whom  they  had  arrested,  and  asked  him  if  he  wanted  to  get 
the  fellow  out.  The  proprietor  gave  cigars  to  these  men. 

This  is  the  saloon  referred  to  in  Chapter  III  as  being  within  35  steps 
from  a public  school. 

November  28th.  Investigator  spoke  again  to  (X621),  the  bartender, 
and  asked  him  if  the.  saloon  was  ever  bothered  by  the  police,  and 
he  said,  “Hell,  no,  they  can  make  all  kinds  of  complaints  and  the  police 
officers  are  our  friends,  and  they  are  sent  to  investigate  and  find  every- 
thing O.  K.  So  it  does  not  do  anybody  any  good  to  make  com- 
plaints.” 

While  talking  to  (X621),  two  men  came  in  and  (X621)  said  they 
were  detectives.  They  were  given  cigars  and  drinks,  for  which  they 
did  not  pay.  Three  men  were  playing  cards  in  the  rear  room.  (X621) 
said  they  were  cadets.  A fourth  man  was  sitting  at  the  table  watch- 
ing the  game.  Investigator  entered  the  rear  room  and  sat  down  at 
a table  with  an  unescorted  woman  named  Violet  (X628),  who  lives 
at  (X629)  Wendell  street.  She  solicited  him  to  go  upstairs  for  im- 
moral purposes.  She  pointed  out  the  man  watching  the  game,  and 
said  he  was  a detective. 

(X621)  introduced  investigator  to  a cadet,  named  (X631),  who 
spoke  about  “getting  jobs,”  and  he  (X631),  made  the  following  re- 
mark: “It  is  a hell  of  a note  when  you  got  to  go  to  the  police  offi- 
cers to  get  a job  in  these  joints.  (X633)  got  me  a job  here  with 
(X634)  once,  and  at  another  time  (X635).  The  last  job  I got  was 
from  a higher  source  than  that.  One  night  (X636)  and  I were  to- 
gether and  both  of  us  were  pretty  well  stewed.  We  came  in  this 
place,  and  without  saying  anything  (X634)  called  (X638)  on  the  side 
and  told  him  to  put  me  to  work.  (X638)  came  over  to  me  and  said, 
T’ll  put  you  to  work  as  soon  as  I possibly  can.’  ” 

November  27th.  Investigator  was  in  this  saloon  at  12  P.  M.  on 
this  date,  two  men  who  appeared  to  be  plain  clothes  officers  were  sit- 
ting on  chairs  in  the  bar  room.  At  12:  15  A.  M.  an  officer  in  uni- 
form No.  (X640)  entered  the  saloon  and  spoke  to  the  two  men  men- 
tioned above  about  a murder.  At  12:  28  this  officer,  No.  (X640), 
stepped  to  the  bar  and  ordered  a drink  of  whiskey.  He  drank  it,  but 


158 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


did  not  pay  for  it.  In  about  10  minutes  the  three  men  started  to  leave 
the  saloon.  The  two  men  stopped  at  the  cigar  case  and  the  bar- 
tender gave  them  each  two  cigars.  The  three  men  then  left  the 
place. 

While  investigator  was  in  the  rear  room,  an  unescorted  woman 
named  Anna  solicited  him  to  go  upstairs  for  immoral  purposes.  She 
said  that  they  never  have  any  trouble  with  the  police.  The  girls 
come  and  go  as  they  please. 

XII.  Dance  Halls.  September  10th.  (X642)  hall,  North  Clark 

street.  Officer  in  uniform  No.  (X643)  was  selling  tickets  at  door. 
Many  of  the  girls  in  this  hall  were  semi-prostitutes.  One  girl  who 
offered  to  go  to  a hotel  with  investigator,  works  in  one  of  the  depart- 
ment stores.  She  receives  a salary  of  $6  per  week,  and  “hustles”  three 
nights  each  week  for  extra  money.  She  told  investigator  that  she 
could  be  found  in  the  rear  room  of  (X644)  saloon,  (X645)  North 
Clark  street.  Investigator  was  solicited  in  this  hall  by  two  other 
girls,  Gladys  and  Flora,  who  said  they  would  go  to  any  of  the  rooms 
in  houses  nearby  or  to  (X646)  North  Clark  street.  One  man  in  the 
hall  called  (X647)  said  he  was  living  with  a big  blonde,  another 
boasted  to  investigator  that  he  was  a “cadet”  and  never  worked. 

September  17th.  (X648)  hall,  (X649)  avenue.  Two  officers.  Nos. 
(X650)  and  (X651)  were  on  duty  in  this  hall.  A young  man  called 
Steve,  about  19  years  of  age,  was  intoxicated,  and  was  put  out  of  the 
hall  by  two  officers.  In  about  5 minutes  he  returned  to  the  bar 
room,  and  brought  these  officers  drinks  of  whiskey.  He  stayed  in  the 
hall  after  this,  and  became  very  noisy,  but  the  officers  did  not  say 
anything  to  him.  Four  other  boys  drinking  beer  did  not  appear  to 
be  older  than  from  17  to  19.  Two  professional  prostitutes  were  seen 
in  this  place. 

September  24th.  (X652)  hall,  (X653)  Milwaukee  avenue.  In- 

vestigator met  a number  of  semi-prostitutes  at  this  dance.  For  in- 
stance, Violet  (X654),  Rosie  (X655),  and  Tantine.  Officer  Nffi. 
(X656)  was  on  duty  at  this  dance  hall.  He  became  friendly  with  in- 
vestigator, and  went  with  him  to  (X657)  saloon,  (X658)  Division 
street,  where  officer  had  a drink  of  whiskey  at  the  bar.  He  told  Jn- 
vestigator  that  if  he  “picked  up  anything”  he  would  take  her  to  (X659) 
hotel  on  corner  of  (X660)  street  and  (X661)  avenue.  _ A room_  could 
be  secured  there  at  any  time.  It  was  the  only  place  in  that  vicinity, 
except  private  houses,  and  one  had  to  get  some  one  who  was  ac- 
quainted to  introduce  him  in  order  to  get  in.  Later  investigator  saw 
same  officer  in  (X662)  saloon,  which  is  under  the  dance  hall,  de- 
scribed above,  eating  a meal.  He  heard  bartender  ask  waiter  if  this 
officer  was  on  the  free  list  also,  and  waiter  said  “Yes. 

(X663  hall,  corner  of  (X664)  and  (X665)  streets.  October  15th, 
two  officers.  Nos.  (X666)  and  (X667)  were  on  duty  in  this  hall.  In- 
vestigator met  a girl  who  said  she  was  not  working  any  more,  as 
she  had  a few  “good  fellows”  who  gave  her  money.  She  goes  to 
the  (X668)  hotel  on  (X669)  and  (X670).  The  men  she  goes  with 


159 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE 

give  her  as  much  as  they  want  to.  There  were  about  200  women  and 
girls.  Some  of  the  girls  appeared  to  be  about  16  years  of  age,  and 
when  he  left  the  hall  he  noticed  several  were  intoxicated.  While  in 
the  saloon  downstairs,  investigator  saw  a girl  not  over  16  come  in 
with  a pitcher  and  buy  5 cents’  worth  of  beer  at  the  bar.  A man 
in  the  saloon  pointed  out  two  plain  clothes  men  who  were  standing  at 
the  bar  when  the  child  bought  the  beer.  A few  minutes  later  an- 
other plain  clothes  man  came  in  and  joined  the  others.  They  were 
served  with  bottled  beer  while  the  third  took  a cigar. 

(X671)  hall,  (X672)  South  State  street.  October  1,  a dance  was 
given  in  this  hall.  The  bar  was  in  a room  adjoining  the  dance  hall, 
and  drinks  were  served  in  the  hall.  Investigator  counted  17  waiters, 
3 bartenders  and  estimated  that  there  were  250  or  300  women  and 
girls  present.  The  youngest  girls  appeared  to  be  about  17  years  of 
age.  He  met  officers  Nos.  (X673)  and  (X673a)  and  had  drinks  with 
them.  They  both  drank  whiskey  at  the  bar. 

(X674)  hall.  Corner  of  (X675)  avenue  and  (X676)  street.  Entire 
building  is  owned  by  (X677)  Brewing  Company.  (X678)  is  the 
representative  of  this  company,  and  manages  the  saloon  and  dance 
hall.  The  latter  is  rented  out  at  different  times  to  organizations  and 
pleasure  clubs.  The  charge  for  the  hall  is  $25.00  per  night. 

The  dance  on  October  15  was  conducted  by  the  (X679).  The  bar 
is  a room  at  the  end  of  the  hall.  The  conditions  in  the  hall  on  this 
particular  night  \yere  disgraceful.  There  were  about  115  girls  pres- 
ent, from  15  to  23  years  of  age,  and  many  of  them  seemed  to  vie 
with  each  other  in  being  “tough.”  Investigator  saw  nine  professional 
prostitutes  whom  he  had  previously  seen  while  investigating  conditions 
in  the  West  Madison  street  district. 

The  dance  was  a masquerade.  Most  of  the  girls  had  on  short 
skirts.  A description  of  the  actions  of  many  of  the  dancers  cannot 
be  printed. 

By  1 o’clock  many  of  the  girls  were  intoxicated,  or  partially  so, 
and  the  dancing  became  more  and  more  suggestive.  Two  young  girls 
about  16  years  of  age  were  dancing  together  and  went  through  vulgar 
and  suggestive  motions.  Investigator  danced  with  one  of  these  girls 
afterward  and  she  offered  to  go  to  a room  at  the  (X680)  hotel, 
(X681)  Milwaukee  avenue.  The  room  would  cost  50  cents.  These 
girls  “hustle”  at  (X682)  and  (X683)  saloon  at  (X684)  Milwaukee 
avenue.  Investigator  also  danced  with  four  other  girls  who  frequent 
this  saloon,  Josie,  Bebe  and  Fifie  (X685),  and  Flora  (X686).  The 
two  officers  on  duty  here  are  Nos.  (X687)  and  (X688). 

(X689)  Club,  (X690)  North  Clark  street.  The  women  who  come 
to  this  hall  are  for  the  most  part  professional  or  semi-professional 
prostitutes.  Among  them  are  Violet  (X691),  Be  (X692)  and  Mig- 
non. 

On  Saturday  and  Sunday  nights  the  attendance  is  about  300  in  this 
hall.  The  girls  are  from  17  to  25  years  of  age.  Many  of  these  girls 
are  waitresses,  house  maids  and  clerks  in  department  stores.  They 
are  called  “ charity  ” as  they  do  not  charge  for  their  services.  Among 


160 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


the  cadets  seen  here  was  (X693),  who  at  present  is  living  at  the 
(X694)  hotel  with  a girl  called  Marcella  (X695).  This  girl  is  a pros- 
titute in  a house  at  (X696)  avenue.  (X697),  the  proprietor,  seems 
to  have  ample  police  protection.  One  of  his  right  hand  men  is  a 
mounted  policeman  by  the  name  of  (X698).  Two  plain  clothes  men 
were  seen  drinking  at  the  bar  of  the  saloon  one  night,  while  a dance 
was  going  on  upstairs. 

(X699)  hall,  (X700)  35th  street.  This  dance  hall  is  frequented 
by  clandestine,  semi-professional  and  professional  prostitutes.  The 
conditions  are  open  and  flagrant.  On  October  23rd,  Officer  No. 
(X701)  in  uniform  was  seen  sitting  at  a table  drinking  beer  with 
women.  Another  officer.  No.  (X702),  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the 
hall  and  later  went  into  the  ladies’  retiring  room  where  he  stayed 
about  ten  minutes. 

(X703)  22nd  street.  This  notorious  dance  hall  situated  in  the 
restricted  district  caters  to  professional  prostitutes  who  take  men  to 
nearby  hotels  or  to  assignation  rooms  or  flats.^ 

SUMMARY. 

First.  Custom  and  precedent  has  established  in  Chicago  certain  re- 
stricted districts,  where  the  laws  and  ordinances  of  the  state  and  city 
are  practically  inoperative  in  suppressing  houses  of  prostitution. 

Second.  Because  of  his  condition  certain  public  officials  have 
given  a certain  discretion  to  the  Police  Department  and  have  al- 
lowed police  rules  and  regulations  to  take  the  place  of  the  law  and 
ordinances  in  these  districts. 

Third.  As  a result  of  this  discretion  certain  members  of  the  police 
force  have  become  corrupt  and  not  only  fail  to  strictly  obey  the 
rules  and  regulations  in  the  restricted  districts  themselves,  but  have 
failed  to  adequately  enforce  the  law  and  ordinances,  outside  the  re- 
stricted districts. 

Fourth.  This  attitude  has  not  only  been  assumed  toward  the  law 
and  the  rules  and  regulations,  but  has  resulted  in  failure  to  report 
to  headquarters  places  in  all  sections  of  the  city  where  immoral  and 
dissolute  persons  congregate. 

Fifth.  In  addition,  officers  on  the  beat  are  bold  and  open  in  their 
neglect  of  duty,  drinking  in  saloons  while  in  uniform,  ignoring  the 
solicitations  by  prostitutes  in  rear  rooms  and  on  the  streets,  selling 
tickets  at  dances  frequented  by  professional  and  semi-professional 
prostitutes;  protecting  “cadets,”  prostitutes  and  saloon  keepers  of  dis- 
orderly places. 


iSee  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  194. 


Chapter  IV. 


Sources  of  Supply. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY. 

1.  Purpose  of  Report.  The  purpose  of  this  report  is  to  discover 
and  report  as  nearly  as  possible  all  the  sources  which  supply  the 
victims  of  the  social  vice;  and  also  to  recommend  measures  to  re- 
strict and  suppress  the  supply. 

2.  Sources  of  Information.  As  far  as  possible  the  Commission 
has  sought  first  hand  sources  of  information,  from  which  to  discover 
the  facts  which  it  reports  and  classifies,  and  from  which  its  conclu- 
sions are  drawn. 

These  sources  of  information  are: 

(a)  Personal  histories  secured  from  30  women,  who  are 
either  now  inmates  of  houses  of  prostitution,  or  have  been  until 
very  recently.  These  histories  have  been  secured  and  carefully 
verified  through  repeated  interviews  by  a woman  who  is  the  con- 
fidential friend  of  these  women,  and  who  has  carefully  safe- 
guarded their  confidence. 

(b)  Accounts  of  themselves  given  by  prostitutes  to  the  in- 
vestigators on  the  Commission: 

(1)  in  amusement  parks  under  private  man- 
agement,   5 

(2)  in  dance  halls,  40 

(3)  in  saloons  and  on  the  street, 49 

(4)  flats  and  assignation  hotels, 15 

(5)  in  houses  of  prostitution, 19 

(c)  Delinquent  girls  investigated  by  the  Juvenile 

Protective  Association,  

A total  of  179  cases  whose  careers,  both  be- 
fore and  after  their  downfall  have  been 
studied  intensively. 

(d)  Records  of  young  girls  in  the  custody  of  the 

Juvenile  Court  of  Cook  County  during 
the  first  ten  years  of  its  operation, 

Total  number  of  cases  reviewed,  . . . 

While  many  of  these  girls  were  personally  interviewed,  and  their 
cases  thoroughly  investigated  by  the  Department  of  Social  In- 
vestigation in  the  Chicago  School  of  Civics  and  Philanthropy, 
the  conclusions  regarding  the  delinquency  of  the  total  number  are 


128 

51 


2,241 

2,420 


163 


164 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


based  upon  a careful  study  of  official  and  other  records  regarding 
them  during  an  investigation  continued  for  more  than  two  years, 
and  reported  to  the  Russell  Sage  Foundation,  by  which  the  results 
of  the  inquiries  are  about  to  be  published, 

(e)  The  investigations  of  the  Commission  on  panders  and 
cadets,  dance  halls,  employment  agencies,  department  stores, 
amusement  parks  under  private  management,  lake  steamers,  and 
reports  of  other  committees  bearing  on  the  sources  of  supply. 

(f)  Investigations  of  the  United  States  Immigration  Commis- 
sion and  the  Imrnigrants’  Protective  League  of  Chicago  on  the 
relation  of  immigrant  women  and  colonies  of  foreign  laboring 
men  in  ‘construction  camps,  lodging  houses  in  cities,  and  else- 
where. 

(g)  Alienists’  inquiry  into  the  sub-normal  physical  and  mental 
condition  of  boys  and  young  men  committed  to  the  State  Re- 
formatory of  Minnesota. 

(h)  As  the  basis  of  estimates  of  the  profits  and  male  patronage 
of  houses  of  prostitution  T 

(1)  Brief  and  argument  of  plaintiff  in  error  before  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  October  Term,  1908,  in  case  of 
People  V.  Bessie  Lee  and  Leona  Garrity. 

(2)  Books  and  papers  of  a keeper  of  a disorderly  house 
showing  daily  and  monthly  receipts,  which  were  seized  by  the 
authorities  and  form  part  of  the  records  of  the  case  of  the 
prosecution. 

(3)  "Verified  reports  of  investigators. 

(4)  Statements  made  at  conferences  with  madames  and 
inmates  of  disorderly  houses. 

(i)  Conferences  with  representatives  of  reform  and  philan- 
thropic agencies  and  other  interested  individuals. 

3.  The  tabulation  and  classification  of  the  data  derived  from  these 
sources. 

4.  Summary  of  conditions  involved  in  the  personal  histories  and 
investigated  records  of  2,420  women  and  girls  under  review  which 
suggest  the  recommendations  herein  submitted. 

(a)  Home  conditions; 

(b)  Economic  conditions; 

(c)  Pursuit  of  pleasure  and  provision  for  recreation ; 

(d)  Procuring; 

(e)  Involuntary  entrance  upon  or  continuance  in  prostitu- 
tion under  so-called  “white  slavery”; 

(f)  Sub-normality  as  a factor  in  the  social  evil; 

(g)  The  supply  of  male  patrons  of  prostitution; 

(h)  Education  in  sex  physiology  and  hygiene. 


iSee  Chapter  I,  Existing  Conditions,  page  95. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


165 


Exhaustive  tables  have  been  prepared  from  the  data  collected  from 
108  cases  by  the  Commission  in  its  investigation.  For  lack  of  space 
these  tables  are  omitted  and  analyses  of  them  are  given  instead.  To 
show  how  the  data  were  collected,  one  table  is  given  as  an  exhibit  cover- 
ing the  cases  of  thirty  girls  investigated  in  a most  careful  and  pains- 
taking way  by  a woman  intimately  connected  with  the  rescue  and 
reform  work  of  the  city.  Similar  tables  are  in  possession  of  the  Com- 
mission which  have  been  furnished  by  the  organizations  mentioned. 


TABLE  GIVING  DATA  REGARDING  THIRTY  INMATES  OP  HOUSES  OP  PROSTITUTION  IN  CHICAGO. 


166 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN 


CHICAGO 


Causes  for  Becoming 
Prostitute 

Seduced. 

Could  not  earn  enough  to 

live  on. 

Seduced  at  18;  reckless 

after. 

No  money  to  live  on  or  buy 

clothes. 

Dance  halls;  tired  of  drud- 

gery. » 

Seduced  at  18. 

Husband  deserted  her;  en- 

ticed by  older  woman. 

Seduced  by  married  man; 

family  unkind. 

Seduced;  for  need  of  money. 

Insufficient  education  for 

clerk;  domestic  work  too 

hard. 

Money,  how 
Spent 

Supporting 
family 

Saving  to  quit. 

Helping 

mother 

Price 

House 

$1.00 

00  1 

5.00 

5.00 

5.00 

00  I 

5.00 

5.00 

5.00 

FAMILY. 

Sisters 

CO 

ded, 

00. 

CO 

- 

Brothers 

00 

Cl 

Boar 

$4. 

- 

Wages, 

Week 

1 $5.00 

8 

00  9 

00  9 

00  01 

7.00 

1 4.00 

5 00 

Former 

Occupation 

Saleswoman... 

Department 
Store 

Saleswoman.. . 

Domestic 

Stenographer. . 

Domestic 

Waitress 

Housemaid . . . 

AGE. 

Present 

29 

(N 

CO 

CO 

22 

26 

23 

Entrance 
to  Life 

CO 

20 

22 

o 

a> 

c5 

No. 

CO 

CD 

00 

9 

10 

YABLE  GIVIHG  DATA  RSGABDlKG  THUlTT  INMATES  OF  HOUSES  OF  PEOSTITUTION. 

IN  CHICAGO— Continued. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  THE  POLICE  16J^ 


Causes  for  Becoming 
Prostitute 

Husband  died;  could  not 
support  child. 

No  work;  no  money. 

Seduced;  unable  to  get 

work. 

Husband  died;  to  support 

mother  and  child. 

Naturally  bad;  immoral  at 

15  years. 

Tired  of  drudgery;  husband 

deserted  her. 

Seduced  at  18;  always  had 

nice  things. 

Could  not  make  ends  meet. 

Seduced  by  married  man. 

Seduced  by  son  of  family; 

could  not  clothe  herself. 

Money,  How 
Spent 

For  mother 
and  child  of 
7 years 

Lost  sight  of 

family 

Price 

House 

00 

6.00 

5.00 

5.00 

5.00 

OOS 

5.00 

OOT 

OOT 

1.00 

FAMILY. 

Sisters 

with 

nt. 

CO 

ban. 

Brothers 

^4 

Lived 

au 

tM 

CO 

C<l 

Orp 

Wages, 

Week 

5.00 

00  9 

3.00 

2.50 

4.00 

7.00 

5.00 

Former 

Occupation 

Governess  and 

housekeeper. 

Domestic 

Cigar  stand. . . 

Waitress, 
chamber 
maid 

X 

a 

t- 

c 

t- 

% 

a 

Dressmaker. . . 

Never  worked. 

Housework . . . 

Telephone .... 

Domestic 

AGE. 

Present 

24 

20 

25 

cS 

27 

22 

Entrance 
to  Life 

23 

20 

o 

00 

o> 

No. 

CO 

CD 

WH 

CO 

wH 

20 

TABLE  SHOWING  DATA  REGARDING  THIRTY  INMATES  OF  HOUSES  OF  PROSTITUTION 

IN  CHICAGO— Continued. 


168 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Causes  for  Becoming 
Prostitute 

Crazy;  wanted  to;  bom 
with  devil  in  her. 

Wanted  to  dress  like  other 

girls. 

Low  wages;  wanted  pretty 

clothes. 

Could  not  get  on  with  step- 

father. 

Not  education  enough  for 

other  work. 

Poverty. 

Drink. 

Woman  took  her  into  house 

of  prostitution. 

Drink  and  bad  influence. 

No  money  and  could  And 

no  work. 

Money,  how 
Spent 

Keeps 

parents 

Price 

House 

1.50 

1.50 

1.50 

1.50 

1.50 

00  I 

OOT 

i 5.00 

1 

L_ 

Street- 

walker 

00  1 

FAMILY. 

Sisters 

<N 

CO 

2 

ded. 

ca 

Brothers 

- 

- 

(N 

5 

Boar 

- 

cs 

Wages, 

Week 

2.50 

4.00 

5.00 

3.50 

5.00 

Low 

Uncer- 

tain. 

5.00 

OOT’ 

Former 

Occupation 

Ticket  seller. . 

Waitress 

Dressmaker; 
sales 

Housework . . . 

Waitress 

4 

Milliner 

Vaudeville. . . . 

Clerk 

1 — 

Restaurant, 
factory 

AGE. 

Present 

CO 

cs 

26 

28 

28 

22 

20 

25 

Entrance 

to  Life 

a> 

Oi 

cs 

22 

GO 

22 

No. 

<N 

§1 

23 

25 

26 

^5 

28 

o 

00 

SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


169 


ANALYSIS  OF  “TABLE  GIVING  DATA  REGARDING  THIRTY  INMATES  OF 
HOUSES  OF  PROSTITUTION  IN  CHICAGO.” 

Age. 


Average  age  of  entrance  to  life, 18  years 

Average  present  age, 23^  years 

Average  years  in  business  to  date,  over  . 5 years 


These  women  are  the  heavy  money  earners  of  some  of  the  “best” 
houses  in  Chicago.  The  majority  of  them  are  apparently  in  robust 
health.  At  any  rate  they  are  in  physical  condition  good  enough  and 
attractive  enough  to  patrons  to  hold  the  lead  in  professional  prostitu- 
tion and  earn  weekly  from  $50  to  $400. 

This  would  seem  to  largely  disprove  the  statement  so  frequently 
made  “that  the  average  life  of  the  prostitute  is  five  years”  and  also 
the  solemn  statement  of  one  Municipal  Court  Judge  that  “in  five 
years  these  girls  will  all  be  dead.” 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  women  in  houses  are  longer  lived 
and  better  off  than  the  street  walker  or  possibly  than  the  clandestine 
prostitute — with  her,  service  is  largely  mechanical — not  an  act  appeal- 
ing to  sentiment  or  affection — while  with  the  latter  type  especially, 
the  physical  stress  upon  her  body  and  nerves  and  strength  caused  by 
expression  of  “love”  as  they  understand  it,  makes  demands  upon  en- 
durance that  are  unknown  to  the  professional  prostitute. 

Occupation. 

Studying  the  occupations,  it  is  found  that  of  the  thirty  only  three 
never  worked ; one  of  these  was  educated  in  a convent ; of  the  other 
two,  no  data  are  given.  The  rest  tried  to  earn  their  living  as  follows : 


Domestics,  6 

Waitresses,  5 

Clerks,  3 

Saleswomen  dept,  store  . 3 

Dressmakers,  2 

Milliner, 1 

Stenography, 1 

Governess,  1 

Telephone  girl, 1 

Vaudeville,  1 

Factory,  1 


25 


170 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Wages. 

The  average  wages  of  the  twenty-five  given  is  $5.00  per  week. 

Family. 

One  was  an  orphan,  two  boarded,  one  lived  with  an  aunt,  the 
rest  had  apparently  drifted  away  from  their  homes.  Twenty-three 
of  the  inmates  enumerated  thirty-eight  brothers  and  forty-four  sisters, 
so  it  would  seem  that  most  of  them  come  from  good  sized  families. 

Price  of  House. 

The  prices  for  “service”  of  the  houses  in  which  these  inmates 
“worked”  are  $1.00,  $1.50  and  $5.00.  Of  these  prices  the  madame 
received  one-half  except  in  the  $1.50  house.  This  particular  house 
has  white  girls  who  receive  Chinamen  only — no  man  of  any  other 
nationality  is  permitted  to  enter;  the  madame  receives  one-third — the 
girl  getting  one  dollar  and  the  madame  fifty  cents  for  each  “service.” 

Money — How  Spent. 

As  to  the  disposition  of  the  money  made  by  these  prostitutes  the 
table  shows  that  three  allege  they  are  supporting  or  helping  their 
family  or  mother ; one,  a mother  and  her  own  seven-year-old  child ; 
one  is  saving  money  so  she  can  give  up  the  life.  The  other  twenty-five 
apparently  spend  the  money  on  fhemselves.  It  is  rather  remarkable 
that  no  one  speaks  of  supporting  a lover  or  “cadet.” 

Causes  for  Entering  Life. 

Nine  were  seduced;  three  could  not  earn  enough  to  live  on  in  any 
other  way;  two  were  enticed  by  other  women  into  the  life;  two 
were  too  ignorant  to  do  any  ordinary  work;  two  lost  their  husbands 
by  death  and  two  by  desertion;  two  said  they  were  naturally  bad,  one 
said  she  wanted  to,  was  “born  with  the  devil  in  her,”  the  other  that 
she  “was  bad  with  boys  before  she  was  15”;  two  for  dress;  two  ruined 
by  drink  and  one  each  on  account  of  trouble  with  family,  poverty, 
money  and  because  she  was  tired  of  drudgery  (this  girl  said  dance  halls 
ruined  her). 

Twelve,  therefore,  out  of  the  thirty  may  be  said  to  have  gone 
wrong  because  of  economic  conditions  and  most  of  those  seduced 
found  prostitution  the  only  or  at  least  the  “easiest”  way. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


171 


B — ANALYSIS  OF  “DATA  REGARDING  PROSTITUTES  IN  DANCE  HALLS.” 

Total  number  of  cases,  40. 

Age. 

Of  the  25  whose  ages  are  given  the  average  is  20.4  years. 

Occupation. 

The  occupations  of  the  18  whose  employment  is  given  are  as  follows ; 

Department  stores,  9 ; nurse,  3 ; trained  nurse,  1 ; lunch  room,  1 ; 
waitress,  1 ; cashier  restaurant,  1. 

Wages. 

Eight  give  wages  earned;  the  average  is  $6.00. 

Family. 

Fourteen  give  meagre  data.  Of  these  6 are  married,  2 board,  3 live 
at  home  (one  of  these  has  a “good  home”),  1 father  a drunkard,  1 no 
home,  1 home  in  New  , York,  married  twice. 

Money — How  Spent. 

Two  say  they  support  parents;  no  other  data. 

Price. 

One  for  price  of  a silk  waist.  The  prices  of  those  given  as  $5.00  and 
up  are  for  inmates  of  (X706a)  dance  hall. 

Causes  for  Entering  Life. 

For  money,  13  (one  of  these  says  for  “spending  money,”  she  receives 
$5.00  per  week  in  a department  store  and  supports  parents)  ; seduced, 
3;  violated,  2;  2 to  support  others  (la  husband  and  1 a lover)  ; 1 
for  finery;  1 for  clothes;  1 for  a good  time  (won’t  take  money)  ; 1 for 
love  of  her  fellow;  2 bad  home  conditions;  1 husband  a pervert,  di- 
vorced ; 1 induced  by  bad  girl  friends ; 1 “brother  put  me  on  the  bum” ; 
1 employer  (a  doctor)  gives  her  money;  1 had  operation  and  can’t 
work;  1 fellow  turned  her  down;  1 better  than  ruining  her  eyes  sew- 
ing; 1 “always  was  immoral.” 


172 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ANALYSIS  OF  DATA  REGARDING  PROSTITUTES  ON  STREET  OR  IN  SALOONS. 


Total  number  of  cases,  49. 

Age. 

Thirty-one  give  ages.  The  average  age  is  20.4  years.  (Two  are  35 
years  old.) 

Occupation. 

Twenty  give  data  as  follows:  Department  store,  6;  waitresses.  4; 
domestics,  1 ; stenographer,  1 ; store,  1 ; mail  order  house,  1 ; factory,  1 ; 
dressmaker,  2;  clerk,  1;  “works,”  1;  ticket  seller,  1. 

Wages. 


Only  four  state  amount  of  wages  received;  the  average  is  $4.87 
per  week. 


Family. 


Seven  are  married,  8 live  at  home,  1 with  private  family,  2 stated 
they  had  good  homes,  1 is  an  orphan  and  1 a widow. 


How  Money  is  Spent. 


Only  one  made  any  statement  except  regarding  her  own  needs;  this 
one  used  her  money  to  support  her  mother. 

Causes  for  Entering  Life. 

Thirteen  for  money ; 4 because  they  liked  it ; 2 ruined  and  deserted ; 
2 deserted  by  husband ; 2 “easier  than  working” ; 2 seduced ; 1 to  sup- 
port baby;  1 parents  turned  her  out;  1 persuaded  by  aunt;  1 put  in 
business  by  a cousin ; 1 husband  wouldn’t  support  her ; 1 ran  away  to  go 
on  stage ; 1 “didn’t  want  to  be  kicked  around  as  a servant.” 


ANALYSIS  OF  DATA  REGARDING  INMATES  OF  HOUSES  OF  PROSTITUTION 

IN  CHICAGO. 


Total  number  of  cases,  19 

Total  number  giving  ages, 13 

Average  age  of  these  13, 23.4  years 


Occupation. 

Former  occupation  is  given  by  only  6:  Department  store,  2;  fac- 
tory, 1 ; waitress,  1 ; domestic,  1 ; and  chorus  girl,  1. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


173 


Wages. 


Data  given  by  only  2. 
store  girl,  $6.00. 


Chorus  girl,  $18.00  per  week;  1 department 
Family. 


Data  given  by  6;  3 stated  they  were  married;  2 came  from  “fine 
families”  and  1 said  her  parents  were  “farmers.” 


How  Money  is  Spent. 

One  sends  $10.00  per  week  to  parents,  the  “farmers”  referred  to 
above;  1 supports  a child.  No  data  regarding  the  others. 


Causes  for  Entering  Life. 

Twelve  give  causes  as  follows:  2 of  the  workers  “salary  too  small 
to  live  on”;  chorus  girl,  “bad  life  of  the  stage”;  1 went  wrong  in 
high  school ; 1 influenced  by  bad  girl  friends  and  by  house  of  prostitu- 
tion opposite  her  home;  2 enticed  into  life  by  bad  men ; 1 put  in  house 
by  her  husband  at  age  of  15;  1 “left  home”;  1 couldn’t  get  along  at 
home;  1 drank  and  parents  cast  her  off;  1 “sported  before  she  mar- 
ried.” 


C — ANALYSIS  OF  “DATA  REGARDING  DELINQUENT  GIRLS.” 

Total  number  of  cases,  51. 

Age. 

The  average  of  the  47  whose  ages  are  given  is  15.7  years. 

Occupation. 

Only  30  stated  to  have  been  workers.  Of  these  8 were  domestics ; 
7 worked  in  factories ; 5 in  department  stores ; 2 in  laundries ; 2 were 
waitresses  in  saloons,  and  the  following  1 each:  Piano  player  in 
nickel  theater,  telephone  company,  sweat  shop,  bakery,  news  stand, 
scaled  fish. 

Wages. 

Only  six  give  data  as  to  wages.  The  amounts  ran  from  $2.50  to 
$8.00  per  week.  The  average  was  $4.90  per  week. 


174 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Causes. 

To  the  total  number  given  (49),  23  are  directly  due  to  bad  home 
conditions,  of  these  2 were  actually  sold  by  the  mothers  (la  girl  of  12 
to  a man  75  years  old),  1 driven  out  by  stepfather;  5 were  violated; 
4 seduced ; 4 by  nickel  theaters ; 2 ruined  by  Greeks  in  fruit  stores ; 
1 ice  cream  parlor ; 1 at  home  by  Greek  peddler ; 2 by  “immoral  house 
parties”;  1 in  a saloon;  1 at  the  soldiers’  encampment;  1 in  a dance 
hall ; 1 was  deserted  by  her  husband  after  an  early  marriage ; 1 was 
drugged ; 1 says  that  drink  was  the  cause ; 1 poverty,  and  1 ignorance. 


ANALYSIS  OF  DATA  FROM  JUVENILE  COURT  RECORDS. 

The  records  of  2,241  young  girls  brought  before  the  Juvenile  Court 
of  Chicago  during  the  first  ten  years  of  its  operation,  charged  with 
immorality,  or  other  offenses  inyolving  sexual  irregularity.  The  cases 
of  all  these  girls  were  carefully  investigated  by  the  Department  of 
Social  Investigation  of  the  Chicago  School  of  Civics  and  Philanthropy, 
in  preparing  a report  on  the  Juvenile  Court  of  Cook  County  for  the 
Russell  Sage  Foundation,  soon  to  be  published  in  two  volumes.  The 
cases  of  these  girls  were  patiently  and  carefully  examined,  not  only  as 
they  appear  upon  the  records  of  the  court,  but  by  personal  inquiry 
of  several  hundreds  of  these  girls  themselves,  their  parents,  and  others 
acquainted  with  their  history. 

The  offenses  for  which  they  were  brought  into  court  were  as  fol- 
lows: On  the  charge  of  being  disorderly  or  incorrigible,  1,370;  and 
on  the  direct  charge  of  immorality,  871.  It  should  be  understood 
that  the  word  “immoral”  is  never  used  in  the  petition  or  statement 
of  the  case,  if  it  can  be  avoided.  The  offenses  disguised  in  the  court 
records  under  the  terms  “incorrigibility”  or  “disorderly  conduct”  in- 
volve in  a large  percentage  of  cases  sexual  irregularity.  This  per- 
centage is  estimated  from  65  to  80  per  cent,  of  all  these  2,241  young 
girls,  arraigned  before  the  Juvenile  Court  as  delinquents.  This  fact  is 
more  significant  in  view  of  their  youth,  since  only  15  per  cent,  of  them 
are  over  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  nearly  half  of  them  are  fourteen 
years,  or  younger. 

The  degraded  condition  in  the  homes  from  which  many  of  these 
girls  came  is  pitifully  apparent.  Among  168  girls  committed  to  the 
State  Training  School  from  Chicago,  30  had  intemperate  fathers,  8 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


175 


intemperate  mothers,  20  had  fathers  who  were  of  vicious  habits,  16 
were  children  of  immoral,  vicious  or  criminal  mothers,  while  in  the 
families  of  12  there  were  others  than  the  parents  who  had  vicious 
or  criminal  records.  In  24  cases  the  father  had  shirked  all  responsi- 
bility and  deserted  the  family.  Eleven  of  these  girls  were  illegitimate 
children,  or  had  been  abandoned,  and  10  had  been  victims  of  gross 
cruelty,  29  had  been  in  houses  of  prostitution,  or  had  been  promiscu- 
ously immoral,  one  having  been  a “common  street  walker”  at  eleven 
years  of  age.  Thirteen  had  sisters  who  had  become  immoral,  and  had 
been  committed  to  public  institutions  on  that  account.  Fourteen  had 
brothers  who  had  been  in  such  institutions  for  the  care  of  delinquent 
boys  and  men. 

Among  the  girls  committed  from  other  sections  of  the  State,  31 
allege  that  the  companion  of  their  first  experience  in  sexual  irregu- 
larity was  a member  of  their  own  family,  and  16  Chicago  girls  had 
the  same  experience.  In  ip  cases  it  was  the  father,  in  5 the  uncle,  in 
8 the  brother  or  older  cousin  who  had  wronged  the  child ; in  72  other 
cases,  girls  brought  in  as  delinquents  before  the  Juvenile  Court  had 
been  wronged  in  this  way,  32  hy  their  oven  fathers.  In  189  other 
cases  in  which  the  girls  were  charged  with  immorality,  the  mother  or 
the  legal  guardian  was  implicated  in  the  offense,  if  not  responsible  for 
it.  In  18  cases,  the  delinquent  girls  were  children  of  common  prosti- 
tutes, in  23  cases  their  mothers  were  known  to  be  immoral,  though  not 
“professionally.”  In  74  other  cases,  the  mother  was  described  as  “of 
questionable  morals”  or  “of  doubtful  character,”  and  in  51  cases  the 
mother  was  intemperate.  We  are  thus  confronted  by  a total  of  346 
cases,  in  which  the  court  records  show  that  the  guardian  under  whose 
care  the  girl  was  growing  up  was  obviously  unfit  to  be  trusted  with 
the  care  of  a young  girl. 

From  the  records  of  156  girls  committed  to  legal  custody  from 
other  portions  of  the  State  than  Chicago,  86  were  the  children  of 
intemperate  fathers  and  13  of  intemperate  mothers.  These  cases  of 
degradation  in  country  families  parallel  the  conditions  found  in  many 
homes  from  which  the  Chicago  children  came  before  the  court.  Un- 
regulated play  in  early  childhood  and  prurient  pleasures  in  youth  were 
the  occasion  of  the  perversion  of  many  of  these  children,  both  in  the 
city  and  the  small  town  as  well  as  in  the  country.  The  first  experi- 


176 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ence  in  sexual  irregularity  came  to  14  Chicago  girls  and  22  country 
girls  while  at  play  when  very  young;  to  45  Chicago  girls  and  65  country 
girls  it  came  as  an  incident  to  such  forms  of  recreation  as  the  theater, 
walking  in  the  parks,  picnics,  skating  rink,  and  buggy  riding.  In  3 
cases  the  girls  were  going  to  or  from  church.  To  35  Chicago  girls 
and  39  country  girls  their  first  experience  of  wrongdoing  came  in  the 
gratification  of  a certain  curiosity;  to  14  from  Chicago  and  24  from 
the  country  there  was  an  attraction  of  something  like  affection ; to 
23  from  Chicago  and  34  from  the  country  it  meant  obtaining  small 
sums  of  money,  from  $1.00  to  $3.00,  and  in  some  instances  only  some 
candy.  The  victims  of  force  and  fraud  numbered  25  from  Chicago, 
62  from  the  country.  Those  who  were  only  ten  years  old  or  younger 
numbered  18  from  Chicago,  24  from  the  country. 

The  careful  study  of  the  experience  of  these  2,241  delinquent  girls 
impressed  the  experienced  investigators  with  the  need  of  developing 
the  most  skillful  agencies  for  dealing  with  such  families  as  many  of 
these  girls  came  from ; the  need  to  provide  and  regulate  recreation ; 
and  with  the  necessity  to  include  instruction  in  personal  and  social 
hygiene  in  the  curricula  of  schools,  both  public  and  private,  at  the  age 
of  puberty. 


THE  SITUATION  IN  CHICAGO  BASED  ON  INVESTIGATION  OF  THE  COM- 
MISSION. 

Panders  and  Cadets. 

1.  Panders.^  This  investigation  has  shown  that  panders  often  work 
in  groups  and  are  in  communication  with  gangs  in  other  cities.  In- 
dividuals, working  independently  are  also  willing  and  eager  to  procure 
prostitutes  for  houses  not  only  in  this  city,  but  for  houses  in  other 
cities  and  countries. 

These  individuals  and  members  of  these  gangs  are  very  often  waiters 
in  saloons,  bartenders  and  proprietors  of  saloons  and  houses  of  prosti- 
tution. They  are  scattered  all  over  the  city,  and  the  individuals  are 
known  to  each  other,  and  confer  together  when  their  sendees  are 
demanded. 

The  subject  of  the  so-called  white  slave  traffic  has  attracted  much 


ipor  text  of  laws,  see  Appendix  VI. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


177 


attention  all  over  the  county.  The  term  “white  slave,”  however,  is 
a misnomer.  • As  a matter  of  fact  the  traffic  in  girls  includes  negroes, 
Chinese  and  all  sorts  of  girls.  A “white  slaver”  in  reality  is  a man 
who  employs  men  and  women,  or  goes  out  himself  to  secure  girls  upon 
some  false  pretense  or  misrepresentation,  or  when  the  girl  is  intoxi- 
cated or  drugged,  and  not  in  possession  of  her  senses,  is  conveyed  to 
any  place  for  immoral  purposes. 

If  the  girl  is  wayward  and  goes  of  her  own  free  will,  she  would  not 
be  a white  slave,  but  the  man  or  woman  who  induced  or  accompanied 
her  to  an  immoral  place  would  be  guilty  under  the  Illinois  pandering 
act  just  as  much  as  if  he  or  she  had  enticed  or  used  force  in  placing 
her  in  a house  of  prostitution. 

It  has  been  demonstrated  that  men  and  women  engaged  in  the  so- 
called  “white  slave”  traffic  are  not  organized.  Their  operations,  how- 
ever, are  so  similar  and  they  use  the  same  methods  to  such  an  extent, 
that  it  is  safe  to  infer  that  they  are  in  some  way  working  together. 

This  fact  is  illustrated  by  the  following  incidents  brought  to  light 
through  the  court  records  as  cited  in  conference  with  the  Commission 
by  the  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  offenders. 

The  first  is  the  case  of  Mollie  Hart.  In  the  trial  of  this  case,  it  was 
shown  that  Albert  Hoffer,  Michael  Hart,  David  Garfinkle,  Maurice 
Van  Bever,  Julia  Van  Bever,  Dick  Tyler  and  Frenchy  Tolman  all 
belonged  to  the  same  crowd,  and  operated  together.  The  headquarters 
of  this  gang  in  Chicago  was  operated  by  Maurice  Van  Bever.  This 
man  was  found  guilty  of  pandering  and  sentenced  for  one  year  and 
to  pay  a fine  of  $1,000.  His  wife,  Julia,  was  also  found  guilty. 

The  Van  Bevers  had  two  houses  of  prostitution  in  Chicago,  one 
called  the  Paris,  located  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Armour  avenue 
and  21st  street,  the  other  the  Sans  Souci  located  at  the  southwest  corner 
of  Dearborn  and  21st  streets.  These  two  houses  back  up  against  each 
other.  This  gang  operated  in  a clever  manner,  which  still  further 
proved  that  the  combination  existed.  This  gang  had  a combination 
with  other  gangs  in  other  cities.  The  following  is  an  illustration : 

At  the  time  the  above  arrests  were  made,  an  investigation  was  car- 
ried on  in  the  South  Side  restricted  district.  With  few  exceptions,  St. 
Louis  girls  were  found  in  houses,  and  the  presence  of  these  girls  was 


178 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


traced  to  this  crowd,  who  brought  them  to  Chicago.  Some  of  the  St. 
Louis  girls  were  found  in  the  two  houses  operated  by  a man  named 
Colisimo.  He  could  not  be  reached.  His  two  managers  were  arrested, 
however,  but  they  could  not  be  convicted,  because  the  man  who  brought 
them  from  St.  Louis  would  not  turn  State’s  evidence.  This  man,  named 
Joe  Bovo  was  convicted  and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  six  months, 
and  to  pay  a fine  of  $300.  His  home  was  in  St.  Louis.  While  the 
girls  could  not  testify  that  Hart  and  Tolman  had  hired  him  (Bovo) 
to  bring  them  to  these  houses,  and  although  it  was  not  proved  in 
court,  the  prosecutor  could  see  very  clearly  how  it  worked  out.  When 
Van  Bever  was  arrested  and  released  on  bonds,  it  was  understood  that 
conferences  were  held  with  owners  of  resorts  in  the  basement  of 
Colisimo’s  saloon.  All  of  the  above  defendants  employed  the  same 
lawyer,  who  has  fought  a great  many  of  these  cases.  This  is  addi- 
tional proof  that  it  was  one  crowd  operating  together. 

There  can  be  no  doubt,  then,  that  these  men  work  in  gangs  and 
that  in  addition  there  are  individuals  known  to  each  other  in  different 
parts  of  the  city  who  work  along  this  line.  Tne  fact  is  further  illus- 
trated and  proved  beyond  question  by  the  following  typical  investiga- 
tion conducted  by  the  Commission : 

The  account  of  the  investigation  is  made  clear  by  the  diary  method, 
giving  under  date  of  each  day  new  developments  in  the  work.  At  the 
end  one  can  see  the  devious  ways  these  men  work,  the  processes  under 
which  they  communicate  with  each  other,  and  the  steps  taken  in  the 
deal  by  which  the  woman  who  has  been  actually  purchased  is  trans- 
ferred from  one  house  to  another  or  from  one  city  to  another,  located 
in  this  country  or  abroad. 

This  investigation  deals,  as  will  be  seen,  in  transactions  by  which 
prostitutes  form  the  basis  of  trade. 

There  were  a number  of  individuals  involved  in  this  investigation 
who  are  referred  to  as  “A,”  the  Agent  for  the  man  in  China ; “B,”  the 
Keeper  of  a house  who  wanted  to  purchase  the  w'omen;  “C,”  the 
“Cadet”  from  whom  the  Avomen  were  to  be  purchased ; “D,”  the  other 
“Cadets”  who  also  agreed  to  furnish  women,  and  “E,”  the  women 
who  were  to  go  to  the  house. 

Sept.  28,  igio.  A met  C in  a saloon  at  (X707a)  street.  C is 
a waiter  in  this  saloon.  During  the  conversation,  A said  that  he 
was  a successful  sporting  man  from  Macao,  China.  That  he  was 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


179 


here  on  business,  and  expected  to  take  five  or  six  women  back 
to  China. 

C at  once  ofifered  to  get  one  woman,  who,  he  said,  was  very 
wise,  good  looking  and  a money  getter.  He  promised  to  see  the 
woman  the  next  day. 

Sept.  2<p.  Saw  C as  agreed.  He  had  seen  the  woman  and  said 
she  wanted  to  know  more  particulars.  He  promised  to  see  her 
again.  During  the  conversation  C said,  “Hell,  I can  get  you  as 
many  women  as  you  want.” 

A then  said  that  he  had  a friend  from  China  who  was  running 
a sporting  house  in  Shanghai.  This  friend  was  in  this  country 
to  get  some  women  for  his  place.  “If  you  know  so  many  women,” 
he  said  to  C,  “and  are  on  to  the  ropes  you  can  probably  help  him 
get  them.” 

C then  said,  “I’ll  get  him  as  many  women  as  he  wants,  when  you 
introduce  me,  and  we  will  agree  on  the  price,  etc.” 

Oct.  j.  A talked  with  D,  a saloon  keeper  at  (X708)  Strand, 
over  which  there  is  a house  of  prostitution  conducted  by  his  wife. 
A intimated  to  D that  he  expected  to  stay  in  Chicago,  and  go 
into  business.  D took  it  for  granted  that  he  meant  the  same 
business  he  was  in.  D then  said,  there  were  well  known  agents 
on  the  West  Side  who  supply  women  for  houses. 

Oct.  4.  Saw  C.  He  was  in  the  same  frame  of  mind  as  at  the 
last  meeting.  Wednesday  is  his  day  off,  and  he  will  try  to  see 
the  woman  whom  he  had  spoken  of.  He  further  stated  that  if  he 
“did  business”  with  the  other  man  from  China  he  would  get 
A what  he  wanted  for  nothing  but  a few  dollars,  etc. 

Oct.  6.  C is  getting  anxious  to  earn  some  money  in  the  man- 
ner suggested. 

A had  said  his  friend  had  gone  to  New  York  on  business.  C 
wanted  to  know  if  the  friend  had  returned,  and  was  told  that  he 
had  not. 

“When  he  does  come,”  said  C,  “bring  him  around,  I can  do 
business  with  him.” 

Before  the  next  visit  to  C a telegram  was  written  purporting  to 
come  from  B (A’s  friend  from  China). ^ 

Oct.  8.  A saw  C and  showed  him  the  telegram  from  his  sup- 
posed friend  in  New  York,  instructing  him  to  get  prices,  etc.,  for 
women  to  go  to  China. 

C said  he  did  not  know  just  how  much  he  should  ask  for  his 
services.  He  finally  agreed  to  $50.00  for  each  woman.  A then 
wrote  out  a letter  in  the  presence  of  C to  be  sent  to  B in  New 
York.  This  letter  stated  the  price  asked  by  C per  woman  and 
asked  him  to  send,  money.^ 

While  waiting  for  a reply  to  this  letter,  the  plan  was  to  keep  C 
interested.  Before  A left  him  on  the  evening  of  Oct.  8,  C said 


^Exhibit  K. 
^Exhibit  L. 


180 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


he  was  sure  of  getting  two  women,  and  was  going  to  work  to 
get  them  at  once. 

In  the  meantime,  a letter  which  had  been  sent  to  New  York 
to  be  written  there,  and  sent  back  to  Chicago  by  a friend  was  re- 
ceived. This  letter  had  been  delayed  one  week,  and  the  telegram 
used  the  day  before  was  supposed  to  take  its  place. 

Oct.  10.  A saw  C and  showed  him  a letter  which  verified  the 
telegram  and  did  much  to  throw  off  any  suspicion.  This  letter 
was  written  on  paper  from  a New  York  hotel,  and  gave  instruc- 
tions to  go  ahead.  ^ 

When  C saw  the  letter  he  said  he  would  make  it  his  business 
to  get  the  women.  He  then  telephoned  to  three  places  to  make 
appointments  for  himself  and  A. 

Oct.  II.  C said  that  he  had  told  a woman  on  the  West  Side 
with  whom  he  had  lived  two  years  to  look  out  for  women  in  the 
neighborhood  who  wanted  to  go  to  China.  He  promised  her  a 
good  present  if  she  helped  him. 

He  also  ’phoned  to  a friend  on  the  South  Side  and  gave  him 
the  same  instructions. 

In  the  meantime  another  letter  had  been  sent  from  New  York, 
saying  that  $150  had  been  sent  to  pay  for  three  women. ^ 

Oct.  12.  C was  shown  this  letter,  and  said  that  he  was  on  thq 
job,  and  would  keep  on  it  until  he  got  the  women.  Said  he  had 

to  be  very  careful  as  the  “fly  mugs  are  looking  out  so  d 

sharp  for  those  things.”  He  declared  that  he  would  go  around 
that  night. 

Oct.  ij.  C said  he  had  been  around  to  a number  of  places 
the  night  before,  and  had  talked  to  several  women.  He  had  made 
arrangements  with  two  to  call  him  up  and  make  appointment  to 
see  A. 

One  of  the  women  was  named  Tantine.  Both  lived  on  the  South 
Side.  One  weighs  135  lbs.,  the  other  169  lbs.  They  are  American 
girls,  and  good  looking.  They  have  signified  their  willingness  to 
go  to  China. 

C also  left  word  with  seven  men  whom  he  knew  on  the  South 
Side  who  have  been  in  the  business  for  years.  One  in  particular 
has  been  living  off  of  prostitution  and  pandering  for  25  years. 
He  is  a great  friend  of  C.  This  man  said  he  would  be  able  to 
get  the  women  within  a few  days. 

All  of  the  men  were  given  to  understand  there  was  money  in 
it,  and  they  are  all  anxious  to  make  it. 

Oct.  14.  Afternoon.  C received  two  messages,  one  from  a 
man  on  the  South  Side,  who  said  he  had  two  women,  and  would 
bring  them  to  the  saloon  that  night  if  possible.  The  other  message 
was  from  a man  who  asked  if  a French  woman  would  do  to  go  to 


^Exhibit  J. 
^Exhibit  M. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


181 


China.  The  man  would  call  up  during  the  evening.  Both  men 
are  working  to  get  the  money. 

Oct.  14.  Evening.  About  11:20  P.  M.  D,  about  35  years  of 
age,  5 ft.  7 inches,  weighing  about  150  lbs.,  came  in  saloon.  He 
was  one  of  the  men  who  had  called  up  during  the  afternoon.  He 
said  that  if  the  women  were  wanted  for  any  place  in  the  United 
States  he  would  send  two  of  his  own,  as  they  were  not  making 
very  much  at  present. 

The  two  women  who  were  expected  did  not  come  to  the  saloon. 
C telephoned  to  make  another  appointment. 

D,  the  man  mentioned  above,  verified  Cs  claim  that  it  was 
slow  work  getting  women  to  go  out  of  town,  as  they  were  watched 
closely  by  the  keepers  of  resorts.  “They  are  all  in  debt  and  are 
not  allowed  to  get  out  of  it ; the  keepers  do  not  want  to  lose 
the  women,  if  they  are  good  money  getters.” 

In  some  instances,  the  keepers  have  girls  arrested  on  a trumped 
up  charge,  if  they  want  to  leave.  If  they  promise  to  stay  the 
charge  is  dismissed. 

D would  not  talk  to  A in  the  cafe,  but  followed  him  outdoors. 
Said  he  did  not  want  any  of  the  others  to  see  that  he  had  any 
business  transactions  with  him.  He  seemed  to  be  afraid,  but 
anxious  to  make  the  money. 

Oct.  15.  C said  he  had  again  spoken  to  his  friends  on  the 
South  Side.  They  all  told  him  they  were  on  the  job.  The  woman 
he  had  spoken  to,  and  who  had  signified  her  willingness  to  go  to 
China,  had  been  drunk  for  three  days.  He  will  see  her  again 
when  she  sobers  up. 

Oct.  16.  C said  that  on  account  of  the  cadets  and  other  men 
as  well  as  women  who  were  watching  the  women  it  was  going 
to  take  some  time  to  get  them.  He  thought  it  would  be  better 
to  make  them  believe  they  were  going  to  Seattle,  Washington,  or 
California,  and  when  they  were  out  there,  it  would  be  easy  to  get 
them  drunk  and  take  them  aboard  the  steamer. 

Oct.  17.  C is  growing  impatient  because  his  friends  do  not 
act  quicker. 

He  went  over  to  the  South  Side,  to  see  one  of  his  friends. 
A said  he  thought  the  plan  to  take  the  women  to  Seattle,  and 
then  ship  them  to  China,  would  be  a good  one.  C said  if  that 
could  be  done,  it  would  be  easier. 

A met  a “cadet”  from  the  South  Side,  who  said  that  he  had  a 
woman  “hustling”  for  him  and  makes  plenty  of  money.  This 
“cadet”  did  not  say  so  in  as  many  words,  but  gave  A the  im- 
pression that  he  would  be  willing  to  look  for  women  to  go  out 
of  town. 

Oct.  21.  A went  to  the  (X712)  saloon  at  (X713)  Dearborn 
street.  Met  D,  an  entertainer,  who  said  he  had  spoken  to  a girl 
named  Rose,  about  going  into  a house  in  China.  She  said  she 
was  willing  to  go. 

A then  went  to  the  (X714)  cafe  on  (X715)  avenue,  between 


182 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(X716)  and  (X717)  streets,  to  see  D,  the  proprietor.  He  was 
out.  The  following  men,  all  “cadets,”  and  several  others  whose 
names  could  not  be  learned,  agreed  to  get  women  to  go  to  China : 
D,  D and  D. 

D has  one  woman  on  the  South  and  one  on  the  West  Side.  D 
and  the  other  men  know  C. 

Oct.  24.  After  telling  C that  he  would  not  lose  anything,  he 
gave  A the  following  names  of  two  friends  on  the  South  Side 
who  would  help  him  get  women:  D,  proprietor  of  (X718),  and 
D.  D has  several  sporting  houses.  (X719)  could  be  found  in 
(X720)  saloon  at  (X721)  avenue  at  11  P.  M. 

Oct.  2p.  A spoke  to  D,  an  entertainer  in  (X722)  saloon,  at 
(X723)  Dearborn  street.  This  waiter  said  he  would  help  A get 
women  to  go  to  China,  if  he  would  agree  to  take  him  and  his 
woman. 

Later  in  the  evening,  D introduced  A to  a prostitute  named 
Agnes  (X724),  alias  Agnes  (X725),  had  told  her  about  the 
man  who  was  looking  for  women  to  go  to  China.  Agnes  is  getting 
a divorce  from  her  husband.  She  had  no  “cadet”  at  present,  but 
will  have  to  get  one  soon  “so  as  to  have  police  protection,”  as 
she  said. 

While  A was  sitting  at  the  table  with  this  woman,  D,  the  enter- 
tainer, told  her  an  imaginary  story  of  the  free  way  in  which  A 
spent  money.  He  said  that  one  evening  in  San  Francisco,  when 
this  “generous  man”  was  sitting  in  a cafe  with  the  police  com- 
missioner, the  proprietor  and  one  of  the  supervisors,  he  had  pur- 
chased about  $1,000  worth  of  wine,  and  had  thrown  $50  in  gold 
to  the  entertainers.  He  further  stated  that  he  had  known  his 
friend  for  several  years,  and  also  knew  about  his  sporting  house 
in  China. 

This  story  so  impressed  the  woman  that  she  was  more  eager 
than  ever  to  go. 

During  the  evening  of  the  29th,  A went  to  the  (X726)  cafe, 
at  (X727)  avenue,  of  which  D is  the  proprietor,  to  see  D,  whose 
name  had  been  given  him  by  C. 

A asked  D if  D was  in  his  place,  saying  he  had  been  sent  by 
C,  D replied  that  he  thought  D was  out  of  town.  He  then  asked 
if  he  Avanted  to  see  D on  any  particular  business.  A then  told  D 
that  he  was  looking  for  women  to  go  to  a sporting  house  in 
China.  At  this  D became  very  confidential,  and  said  that  he 
could  get  two  women  for  this  purpose,  the  price  to  be  fixed  later. 
He  then  introduced  A to  several  men  about  the  saloon.  One  of 
these  was  D,  a “cadet”  who  had  his  woman  “hustling”  on  22nd 
street.  D said  he  would  be  on  the  lookout  for  women.  A also 
spoke  to  a boy  about  18,  who  is  an  entertainer  and  “cadet.”  He 
knows  C and  the  proprietor  of  the  saloon  where  C works.  He 
was  also  willing  to  get  women. 

When  A was  leaving,  D invited  him  to  come  again  and  repeated 
that  he  could  get  two  women  by  the  end  of  November. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


183 


Nov.  17.  D asked  A when  he  expected  to  go  to  China.  A 
replied  in  a couple  of  weeks.  D then  said  he  would  try  to  get 
the  women  by  that  time. 

Nov.  20.  D introduced  A to  a man  named  “D,”  a former 
saloon  keeper.  D said  this  man  would  get  some  women  to  go  to 
China. 

D also  said  that  the  man  who  was  indicted  by  the  Federal 
Grand  Jury  for  importing  women,  and  who  jumped  a $24,000 
bond,  would  never  have  gotten  into  trouble,  if  he  had  listened  to 
him.  He  (D)  had  offered  to  get  him  all  the  women  he  wanted  for 
$100  each,  but  the  man  thought  he  would  be  wise,  and  so  he  sent 
some  French  “cadets”  to  France  and  imported  the  women. 

D went  on  to  tell  of  his  long  experience  in  the  business,  extend- 
ing over  about  20  years.  “I  am  not  a cadet  myself,”  he  said, 
“but  I have  gotten  women  for  others  a good  many  times,  and 
I can  get  you  as  many  as  you  want,  if  you  want  to  pay  for  it.” 

He  warned  A not  to  talk  as  there  were  a lot  of  “stool  pigeons” 
around. 

Nov.  26.  A went  to  the  (X727a)  cafe,  (X727b)  street,  corner 
of  (X727c)  and  (X727d)  streets,  and  A introduced  himself  to 
the  bartender,  named  D,  as  the  proprietor  of  a sporting  and  gam- 
bling house  in  Macao,  China.  The  bartender  said  he  had  two 
women  “hustling,”  one  in  the  rear  room  of  this  saloon,  and  one 
in  a house.  He  said  he  might  take  a notion  to  go  to  China, 
and  take  his  two  women  with  him.  He  also  stated  that  he  could 
get  other  women  to  go.  He  declared  that  he  was  tired  of  this 
town,  that  there  was  not  much  money  here  any  more,  and  he 
would  like  to  go  where  a lot  could  be  made.  About  12;  00  P.  M. 
on  Nov.  27,  1910,  D introduced  A to  a “cadet”  named  D,  who 
was  in  the  saloon,  and  told  him  of  the  China  proposition. 

D also  has  one  woman  “hustling”  in  the  rear  room  of  this  sa- 
loon, and  another  in  a house  on  .(X727e)  street.  He  declared  that 
he  was  willing  to  take  a woman  to  China.  He  pointed  out  this 
woman  to  A.  He  further  stated  that  he  had  had  a few  hundred 
dollars,  but  lost  it  gambling  a few  days  ago. 

The  record  of  above  events,  under  the  dates  given,  shows  beyond  a 
doubt  the  connection  of  these  men  with  each  other,  and  how  easy  it  is 
to  enter  into  negotiations  for  women  to  go  to  other  states  or  for- 
eign countries  for  purposes  of  prostitution. 

If  the  Commission  had  desired  to  carry  these  transactions  to  a final 
conclusion  by  the  payment  of  the  sums  demanded  there  is  no  ques- 
tion but  that  all  of  the  men  above  mentioned  could  and  would  have 
produced  the  “white  slaves”  for  exportation.  After  consideration  of 
the  matter  the  Commission  decided  that  inasmuch  as  it  was  not  a 
prosecuting  body  sufficient  evidence  had  been  secured  and  the  inves- 
tigation was  closed. 


184 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


II.  The  “Cadet.”'^  The  word  “cadet”  is  generally  used  in  place  of 
the  uglier  title  “pimp.”  He,  with  the  pander  or  procurer,  is  the  lowest 
speciman  of  humanity,  and  whenever  apprehended  should  be  dealt  with 
to  the  fullest  extent  of  the  law.  The  report  of  The  Committee  of  Fif- 
teen (New  York  City)  issued  in  1902,  thus  describes  this  type: 
“The  ‘cadet’  is  a young  man,  averaging  from  eighteen  to  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  who,  after  having  serv^ed  a short  apprenticeship  as  a ‘light- 
house’ secures  a staff  of  girls  and  lives  upon  their  earnings.  He 
dresses  better  than  the  ordinary  neighborhood  boy,  wears  an  abundance 
of  cheap  jewelry,  and  has  usually  cultivated  a limited  amount  of  gen- 
tlemanly demeanor.  His  occupation  is  professional  seduction.” 

The  cadet  is  the  go-between,  he  is  the  agent  through  whom  business 
is  directed  toward  his  own  woman,  or  the  house  in  which  she  works. 
He  looks  after  her  when  apprehended  by  the  law,  and  either  uses  some 
political  influence  in  her  behalf,  or  sees  after  her  fine  or  bail.  In  many 
cases,  he  is  the  lover  or  “sweetheart,”  and  by  some  power  so  attaches 
his  girl  to  himself  that  she  will  never  betray  him  no  matter  if  he  has 
beaten  and  abused  her.  This  strange  paradox  often  prevents  justice 
^l^being  meted  out  to  this  outcast  of  society,  for  in  many  cases  he  can  be 
convicted  only  on  her  testimony.  Often  the  “cadet”  belongs  to  political 
organizations,  and  exchanges  shady  work  at  the  polls  for  protection 
from  men  in  power  for  his  “woman.”  Again,  these  “cadets”  are  often 
attached  to  clubs  as  preliminary  boxers  and  prize  fighters. 

While  negotiating  with  these  panders,  the  investigator  met  sev- 
eral “cadets,”  who  are  also  procurers  when  they  have  sufficient  courage. 

Among  these  “cadets”  were  the  following: 

(X728),  alias  (X729),  hous6  at  (X730)  IMadison  street,  in- 
troduced investigator  to  one  of  his  women  who  had  come  from 
(X730a)>  111.  She  is  about  22  years  of  age.  He  has  two  other 
girls,  one  in  South  Chicago,  and  one  in  Chicago  Heights.  This 
man  conducted  an  employment  agency  at  one  time. 

(X731)  and  (X732).  These  men  can  be  found  generally  at  the 
(X733)  cafe  on  (X734)  street,  or  (X735)  saloon  on  the  comer 
of  (X73S)  and  (X736)  streets.  Both  of  these  men  are  “cadets” 
and  procurers. 

(X732)  sold  a girl  to  a keeper  of  a house  of  prostitution  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  for  $25  a few  weeks  agro.  He  told  the  girl 
he  was  going  with  her.  He  went  with  her  and  the  keeper  of  the 
Omaha  house  to  LaSalle  Street  Station,  put  the  girl  on  the  train. 


^For  text  of  laws  and  ordinances  see  Appendices  V-VI-VIII. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


185 


and  left  her  saying  he  was  going  to  buy  a ticket.  He  did  not 
return.  Two  years  ago,  this  same  procurer  persuaded  a girl  to 
leave  her  home.  The  parents  instituted  a search  and  (X732) 
grew  afraid  after  he  had  lived  with  her  for  several  months.  He 
left  and  went  south  to  work  on  a farm  to  keep  out  of  the 
way. 

(X738).  Cadet  and  procurer.  Is  legally  married  to  one  woman 
who  is  “soliciting”  for  him.  He  has  another  woman  in  a house 
of  prostitution  in  Indiana. 

As  above  stated,  many  of  the  bartenders  and  waiters  in  saloons  are 
“cadets.”  In  fact  a waiter  or  bartender  is  often  required  to  have 
women  soliciting  for  drinks,  the  two  positions  go  hand  in  hand.^ 

DANCE  HALLS. 

There  are  approximately  275  public  dance  halls  in  Chipago  which 
are  rented  periodically  to  so-called  pleasure  clubs  and  societies  or  are 
conducted  by  individuals. 

It  has  been  possible  during  a brief  investigation  to  observe  condi- 
tions in  only  nineteen  of  these  dance  halls.  Those  investigated,  how- 
ever, are  located  in  different  sections  of  the  city,  so  that  the  findings 
indicate  general  conditions  in  places  of  this  type. 

Many  of  these  halls  are  frequented  by  minors,  both  girls  and  boys, 
and  in  some  instances  they  are  surrounded  by  great  temptations  and 
dangers.  Practically  no  effort  is  made  by  the  managers  to  observe 
the  laws  regarding  the  sale  of  liquor  to  these  minors.  Nor  is  the 
provision  of  the  ordinance  relating  to  the  presence  of  disreputable  per- 
sons observed.^ 

In  nearly  every  hall  visited,  investigators  have  seen  professional 
and  semi-professional  prostitutes.  These  girls  and  women  openly  made 
dates  to  go  to  nearby  hotels  or  assignation  rooms  after  the  dance.  In 
some  instances  they  were  accompanied  by  their  cadets  who  were  con- 
tinually on  the  lookout  for  new  victims.  Young  boys  come  to  these 
dances  for  the  express  purpose  of  “picking  up”  young  girls  with  whom 
they  can  take  liberties  in  hotels,  rooms  or  hallways  of  their  homes. 

The  following  are  typical  instances  illustrative  of  these  conditions: 
Sept  (X744a)  hall,  corner  (X745)  and  (X746)  streets.  Coh- 

^See  Chapter  II,  The  Social  Evil  and  The  Saloon.  Also  Chapter  I,  Ex- 
isting Conditions  in  Chicago. 

^For  text  of  ordinances  regulating  Dance  Halls,  see  Appendices  XVI- 
XVII-XVIII-XIX. 


186 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ditions  here  were  bad.  A number  of  young  girls  were  in  the 
balcony  drinking  with  fellows  between  dances.  Investigator  met 
girl  who  said  she  was  17  years  of  age  this  month.  He  danced 
with  three  different  girls,  two  of  whom  proposed  going  to  a 
hotel  if  he  had  the  money,  the  third  girl  said  they  could  get 
a room  on  West  Madison  street.  Beer  is  sold  in  the  dance  hail 
for  15  cents  per  bottle. 

Sept.  4.  (X746a)  hall.  West  Madison  street.  Saloon  under 

dance  hall.  Conditions  bad.  One  girl  was  quite  drunk.  She 
afterwards  came  down  from  the  dance  hall  and  entered  the  rear 
room  of  the  saloon.  Investigator  saw  girl  named  Violet  drinking 
beer  in  dance  hall,  drinks  were  sent  up  to  the  hall  from  the  saloon 
below  by  dumb  waiter.  Another  girl  by  name  of  Rosie  also  left 
the  dance  hall  and  came  to  the  rear  room  of  saloon.  Rosie  said  she 
was  18  years  old,  Violet  said  she  was  19. 

Sept.  10.  (X746b)  hall.  North  Clark  street.  Investigator 

counted  51  girls.  Some  appeared  to  be  18  or  19  years  of  age. 
Investigator  met  one  girl  who  gave  the  name  of  Marcella  (X746c) 
and  said  that  she  worked  in  the  basement  of  department  store. 
Marcella  said  her  salary  was  $6  per  week,  out  of  this  she  pays 
$3  for  meals  and  $2  room  rent,  besides  60  cents  carfare.  She 
“hustles”  three  nights  a week  for  extra  money  to  pay  for  wash- 
ing, clothes  and  other  things.  She  told  investigator  that  she  can 
be  found  in  rear  room  of  saloon  on  North  Clark  street.  She  is 
about  20  years  old. 

Another  girl  who  said  her  name  was  Fifie  claimed  to  be  mar- 
ried to  a man  who  was  at  the  dance.  The  husband  knew  his 
wife  solicited  other  men  and  was  satisfied  if  she  brought  home 
some  money,  but  if  she  “went  for  charity  he  would  beat  her  up.” 
When  she  married  this  man  two  years  ago  she  w’as  a street  walker, 
and  he  was  one  of  her  steady  fellows. 

Investigator  was  also  solicited  by  two  other  girls,  Bessie  and 
Frankie,  who  said  they  would  go  to  any  of  the  rooms  in  houses 
nearby  or  to  (X747)  North  Clark  street. 

One  girl  called  Violet  was  partially  intoxicated,  said  she  would 
not  dance  but  sat  at  one  of  the  tables  drinking  beer  with  different 
men.  She  is  about  20,  and  looked  like  a professional  prostitute. 
The  rest  room  contains  about  20  tables,  and  three  waiters  are  in 
attendance.  Beer  was  15  cents  per  bottle,  or  5 cents  per  glass. 
There  is  a regular  bar  in  front  of  the  hall  with  two  doors 
leading  to  it. 

Rough  dancing  is  not  allowed,  but  the  language  used  is  coarse 
and  full  of  oaths.  A fellow  called  Jack  said  he  was  living  with  a 
big  blonde,  another  boasted  to  investigator  that  he  was  a cadet, 
and  never  worked. 

Sept.  18.  (X746d)  hall.  Wells  street.  Conditions  good.  About 
225  girls,  some  did  not  appear  to  be  over  16  years  of  age.  No 
rowdy  actions  allowed.  No  liquor  sold  in  hall.  No  smoking  al- 
lowed only  in  retiring  room.  The  girls  do  not  go  out  with  fellows. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


187 


Several  told  investigator  this  was  the  most  decent  dance  hall  in 
that  section  of  the  city.  It  had  a bad  name  three  years  ago.  In- 
vestigator met  one  girl  whom  he  knew  to  be  a professional  prosti- 
tute from  saloon  on  North  Clark  street.  He  danced  with  her, 
and  she  asked  him  not  to  let  on  that  he  knew  what  she  was  as 
everybody  in  the  hall  thought  she  was  decent.  She  offered  to  go 
to  hotel. 

Sept.  17.  (746e)  hall,  West  North  avenue.  Only  two  women 

were  seen  whom  investigator  knew  to  be  professional  prostitutes. 
One,  named  Bebe,  said  she  was  from  a house  on  North  Clark 
street.  She  would  not  give  the  number,  as  the  house  was  posi- 
tively private,  but  said  if  she  was  given  $5  to  show  that  every- 
thing was  O.  K.  she  would  take  him  to  the  house  after  the  dance. 

Sept.  21.  (X746f)  hall  on  North  Clark  street.  Counted  185 

girls  and  women  from  17  to  30  years  of  age.  Dance  hall  is  on 
third  floor,  with  two  stairways  leading  down  to  second  floor, 
where  there  is  a bar.  On  this  floor  are  tables  which  are  crowded 
with  girls  drinking  with  fellows,  between  the  dances.  Dances 
are  conducted  here  every  night  and  on  Sundays.  The  hall 
has  a bad  reputation  and  a man  can  “pick  up”  a girl  any  time. 
Investigator  talked  with  the  following  girls  who  were  all  drink- 
ing: 

Violet  works  in  department  store,  salary  $5  per  week.  Was 
seduced  and  left  home.  Baby  died  and  she  “solicits”  on  the  side 
to  support  herself.  Is  19  years  of  age,  born  and  raised  in  (X748). 
Pmoms  on  North  Clark  street,  but  would  not  give  number. 

Rosie,  20  years  old.  Born  in  Chicago.  Lives  with  fellow  at 
hotel  and  “solicits”  for  him.  Will  go  any  place  with  fellows. 

Bessie,  20  years  old,  works  in  department  store.  Salary  $6 
per  week,  and  “solicits”  on  the  side.  Left  home  on  account  of  step- 
mother. Rooms  with  chum.  Will  go  any  place  with  fellows. 

Mag,  18  years  old.  Works  in  department  store.  Salary  $5.50 
per  week.  Tells  parents  she  receives  more.  Helps  support  parents 
and  “solicits”  at  dances  for  spending  money.  Father  is  sickly. 

Investigator  met  three  professional  prostitutes  from  saloon,  and 
two  from  another  saloon.  These  women  were  seeking  business. 

A woman  conducting  a furnished  room  house  on  North  La  Salle 
street  told  investigator  that  most  of  the  girls  at  this  dance  worked 
downtown  and  roomed  along  North  Clark  street,  and  “solicited” 
at  night. 

Sept.  24.  (X748a)  hall,  Milwaukee  avenue.  Condition  fair. 

Bar  in  connection  on  same  floor.  Tables  all  around  dance  hall, 
in  the  balcony.  Five  waiters.  Boys  and  girls  are  kept  very 
orderly.  About  200  girls.  Investigator  talked  with  following 
girls 

Lillie,  19  years  old,  works  in  department  store,  salary  $5  per 
week.  Will  go  out  for  a “good  time” ; but  will  not  take  any 
money.  Her  friend  gave  her  a bracelet  last  week.  He  is  a clerk 
in  the  same  store. 


188 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Gerty,  18  years  old.  Works  in  department  store,  salary  $6  per 
week.  Has  two  steady  fellows,  who  go  to  see  her  every  week, 
and  give  her  $1  each.  They  take  her  to  a room  downtown,  but 
she  did  not  know  the  name  of  the  place.  She  lives  at  home  with 
parents,  and  when  she  goes  out  she  tells  them  that  she  goes  to  a 
show  with  a girl  friend. 

Aside  from  the  above,  investigator  met  a number  of  girls  from 
(X749)  department  store,  who  were  with  their  steady  fellows. 
One  of  them  named  Violet  offered  to  make  a “date”  with  inves- 
tigator, if  he  knew  of  a place  to  take  her.  All  she  wanted  was  the 
price  of  a silk  waist.  Several  other  girls  wanted  investigator  to 
take  them  to  shows  or  dances. 

Sept.  jp.  (X749a).  Dance  hall  on  31st  street.  Regular  bar. 
Ladies’  drinking  parlor  next  to  dance  hall.  Six  colored  waiters. 
A mixed  crowd,  but  a large  proportion  are  “sporting”  women. 
About  200  girls,  ages  from  17  to  35.  Investigator  talked  with  fol- 
lowing girls : 

Miss  (X750).  Trained  nurse,  but  she  cannot  stand  the  work, 
because  of  a recent  operation.  She  has  a few  friends  who  help 
her  out,  and  as  soon  as  she  can  earn  enough  money  to  buy  some 
good  clothes,  she  expects  to  go  home. 

Girl  (no  name),  18  years  old.  Rooms  on  East  31st  street. 
Said  she  wanted  to  get  drunk  because  her  fellow,  a singer,  whom 
she  had  been  going  with  as  the  “only  girl,”  had  turned  her  down. 
“She  didn’t  care  what  happened  to  her.”  If  investigator  wanted 
her  she  “would  go  any  place,  it  didn’t  make  any  difference.” 
Later  this  girl  was  seen  to  leave  the  hall  with  a young  man. 

Amy,  20  years  old.  Lives  on  East  31st  street.  She  would  go 
out,  but  not  that  night,  as  her  steady  fellow  was  with  her.  He  is 
a street  car  conductor,  and  keeps  her.  Had  just  given  her  a new 
fall  hat,  which  had  cost  $20,  and  is  going  to  buy  her  a new  winter 
coat  after  pay  day.  She  called  him  (X751).  Amy  was  a cashier 
in  a restaurant  downtown  until  she  met  him.  The  only  reason 
she  goes  with  anyone  else  is  to  get  a little  more  spending  money. 

Rosie  is  a dressmaker.  Said  she  was  the  only  member  of  the 
family  who  was  “sporty.”  The  reason  why  she  goes  out  is  be- 
cause if  she  stays  at  home,  she  would  be  sewing  and  when  she 
worked  by  gas  light  her  eyes  hurt  so  that  she  started  to  going  to 
this  dance  hall.  She  took  her  first  drink  in  this  place,  and  finally 
went  out  with  a fellow  who  offered  her  $5.  When  she  saw  she 
could  make  money  so  easily,  she  made  up  her  mind  it  was  better 
than  ruining  her  eyes  and  health  by  sewing.  She  “learned  it  all 
by  going  to  this  dance  hall,”  and  now  she  “likes  her  beer,  and 
drinks  quite  a lot.” 

Tantine.  Lives  on  South  Park  avenue.  Tantine  is  learning  to 
dance.  She  comes  to  the  dance  with  a man  who  drives  a grocery 
wagon.  He  is  good  to  her,  takes  her  to  shows,  buys  her  presents, 
and  she  likes  him.  He  tells  her  she  could  make  a lot  of  money. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


189 


but  she  “likes  him  too  well  to  go  with  anyone  else.”  He  encour- 
ages her  to  drink  with  the  other  fellows. 

Tantine  and  her  friend  Bell  both  were  from  a hospital.  Tan- 
tine  is  a nurse  and  Bell  only  works  there.  They  go  to  this  dance 
regularly  and  both  will  go  out  with  two  men  anytime.  Tan- 
tine told  investigator  that  they  had  two  “Internes”  on  their  staff, 
and  were  “bleeding”  them  for  all  that  was  in  it.  (The  hospital 
telephone  was  given  and  the  fact  verified.  Hospital  (X752a). 

Rosie.  Works  in  millinery  store,  learning  the  trade.  Salary 
$4  and  can’t  hardly  exist.  Proposed  going  out  as  she  was  nearly 
“broke.”  Said  she  had  gone  out  with  fellows  before  she  left  home, 
and  her  folks  were  going  to  send  her  away.  So  she  ran  away 
with  a fellow.  This  man  wanted  her  to  “get  out  and  hustle 
for  him,”  so  she  thought  if  she  was  going  to  do  it  for  a living 
she  would  keep  all  she  earned  herself,  so  she  “quit”  this  fellow, 
whom  she  called  Jim.  Rosie  said  she  was  20  years  of  age.  She 
is  very  good  looking. 

Emma.  A professional  prostitute,  stays  at  (X752)  State 
street. 

The  dance  on  October  8th  on  corner  of  (X753)  and  (X7S4)  ave- 
nue, was  given  by  the  (X755)  club.  Mr.  (X756)  had  the  bar  privilege 
The  bar  is  located  at  the  back  of  the  hall.  There  were  four  bar- 
tenders and  drinks  were  sold  to  “ladies”  at  the  tables  around  the  hall 
and  in  the  balcony.  There  were  nine  waiters.  Beer  was  sold  for 
5 cents  per  glass,  15  cents  per  pint  bottle,  whiskey  15  cents  a drink. 

There  were  about  400  women  and  girls  in  the  hall.  Some  of  the 
girls  were  from  7 to  12  years  of  age,  and  they  remained  until  1 A. 
M.,  when  investigator  left  the  dance. 

During  the  evening  the  investigator  met  5 professional  prostitutes 
from  the  22nd  street  district.  He  also  met  three  cadets,  by  the 
names  of  Jack  (X757)  and  (X758)  and  (X758a)  with  Gertie,  Hattie 
and  Mag.  While  dancing  with  these  girls,  they  told  investigator  that 
these  men  were  their  “lovers,”  and  did  not  work. 

Investigator  also  met  the  following  girls : 

Rosie  (X759),  boards  at  (X760),  (X761)  avenue.  Said  .she 
had  a friend  who  gave  her  a pair  of  gloves,  and  is  going  to 
give  her  an  old-gold  bracelet.  He  is  an  insurance  agent.  She 
works  at  (X762)  department  store.  Receives  $11  per  week  in 
the  (X762a)  department.  Her  sister  Violet  works  at  (X763) 
department  store  as  a clerk  at  $7  per  week.  Rosie  said  she 
would  make  a date  and  go  out  anytime  (was  verified). 

While  he  was  at  this  dance,  investigator  saw  6 women  who  were 
very  much  intoxicated. 

(X766)  street  and  (X767)  avenue.  The  dance  described  above  was 
in  the  (X768).  This  one  was  held  in  the  (X769)  proper  on  the 


190 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


same  evening,  October  8th.  Investigator  entered  this  hall  after  1 
A.  M.  when  he  left  the  dance  at  the  (X770).  The  dance  was  being 
given  by  the  (X771)  and  (X772)  Union. 

The  bar  was  at  the  end  of  the  hall  and  tables  were  placed  all 
around  the  room.  There  were  5 bartenders,  4 helpers  and  investi- 
gator counted  23  waiters.  He  estimated  the  number  of  women  pres- 
ent to  be  700;  and  at  least  one-third  were  either  intoxicated  or  partly 
so.  Two  women  were  put  out  of  the  hall  for  using  vulgar  language 
and  starting  fights. 

Investigator  counted  20  professional  prostitutes  from  the  22nd 
street  district,  and  other  districts.  One  of  the  prostitutes  frequents 
(X773)  saloon.  She  told  investigator  that  she  was  there  with  a fellow 
whom  she  had  “kept  up”  for  a year.  She  had  just  bought  him  a 
new  suit.  This  couple  had  a quarrel  during  the  dance  on  account  of 
another  girl. 

Some  of  the  girls  present  were  as  young  as  16.  A man  by  the 
name  of  (X774),  said  that  many  of  the  girls  were  sporting,  “and 
the  dance  was  as  bad  as  the  First  Ward  Ball  in  some  ways.” 

Investigator  met  two  girls  who  work  in  (X775)  department  store. 
These  girls  “solicit”  every  night  in  one  of  the  saloons  in  the  22nd 
street  district.  One  by  the  name  of  (X776),  has  a man  by  the  name 
of  (X777)  whom  she  keeps.  They  have  a furnished  room  at  (X778) 
street  and  (X779)  avenue. 

(X780)  hall,  corner  of  (X781)  and  (X782)  streets.  Hall  rented 
bv  (X783),  who  is  manager  for  the  woman  who  owns  the  place. 
He  also  manages  the  saloon  downstairs,  (X784)  street.  On  the  night 
of  October  15th  there  was  a (X785)  dance  in  this  hall. 

Investigator  met  one  girl  who  said  she  was  not  working  any  more, 
as  she  had  a few  “good  fellows”  who  gave  her  money.  She  goes 
to  the  (X786)  hotel  on  (X787)  and  (X788)  avenue.  The  men  she 
goes  with  give  her  as  much  as  they  want  to.  The  room  rent  is  50 
cents. 

Investigator  estimated  that  there  were  200  women  and  girls,  most 
of  whom  were  (X789),  in  the  hall.  Some  of  the  girls  appeared  to 
be  about  16  years  of  age.  The  girls  were  drinking  freely  and  when 
he  left  the  hall,  he  noticd  several  who  were  intoxicated. 

(X790),  near  (X791)  street  on  (X792)  avenue.  The  dance  given 
on  October  4th  in  this  hall  was  quite  respectable.  There  were  about 
35  girls  and  women  from  17  to  35  years  old  present.  Investigator 
talked  to  four  girls  who  work  at  (X793)  _ department  store.  A man 
in  the  hall  said  that  the  crowd  that  came  in  this  hall  was  very  select, 
and  had  been  for  two  years.  No  drinks  were  sold  in  the  hall,  the 
nearest  saloon  is  at  (X794)  street  and  (X795)  avenue. 

(X796)  hall.  Corner  (X797)  avenue  and  (X798)  street.  The 
dance  hall  is  over  a saloon.  The  entire  building  is  owned  by  tne 
(X799)  brewing  company.  (X800)  is  the  representative  of  thi? 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


191 


company,  and  manages  the  saloon  and  dance  hall,  the  latter  is  rented 
out  at  dififerent  times  to  organizations  and  pleasure  clubs.  The 
charge  for  the  hall  is  $25  per  night. 

The  dance  on  October  15th  was  conducted  by  the  (X801)  club. 
The  bar  was  in  a room  at  the  end  of  the  hall. 

The  investigator  declares  that  the  conditions  on  this  particular 
night  were  disgraceful.  There  were  about  115  girls  present  from 
15  to  23  years  of  age,  and  many  of  them  seemed  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  being  “tough.”  Several  of  the  girls  said  that  a decent  girl 
would  not  go  to  this  hall.  Investigator  saw  9 professional  prostitutes 
whom  he  had  previously  seen  while  investigating  conditions  in  the 
West  Madison  street  district.  The  details  connected  with  this  par- 
ticular dance  are  too  vile  to  appear  in  print. 

Investigator  danced  with  one  of  the  girls  who  was  particularly 
vulgar,  and  she  said  she  would  go  to  a room  in  the  (X802)  hotel, 
(X803)  avenue.  The  room  would  cost  50  cents.  This  girl  had  a 
girl  friend  with  her.  Both  came  from  St.  Louis.  Their  parents  think 
they  are  working  in  Chicago.  They  “solicit”  at  (X804)  and  (X805) 
saloon  (X806)  avenue. 

Investigator  also  danced  with  four  other  girls  who  frequent  this 
saloon.  In  addition  he  met  a number  of  girls  who  work  as  waitresses 
in  downtown  restaurants,  the  following  information  was  given  by  the 
girls. 

Jennie.  19  years  old.  Said  her  own  brother  was  the  cause  of  her 
downfall.  She  got  into  trouble  and  left  her  home  in  (X807).  Came 
to  Chicago  and  lived  with  an  old  man  and  his  wife  on  26th  street, 
until  she  had  a baby.  It  died  the  same  day  it  was  born.  She  left 
the  old  man  eight  months  ago,  and  now  works  in  one  of  (X808) 
lunch  rooms  and  “solicits  at  night.”  She  said  she  would  go  to  the 
(X809)  hotel  for  $1.00,  room  rent  50  cents. 

Mag.  Said  she  was  21  years  old.  Came  from  (X810),  Ken- 
tucky, two  years  ago.  Could  not  make  enough  money  waiting  on  table 
to  pay  expenses..  Finally  she  met  a fellow  who  took  her  out,  bought 
her  some  clothes,  gave  her  money  and  not  long  afterward  they  took 
a room  together.  He  left  her  and  is  now  tending  bar  “on  the  line.” 
She  then  went  “on  the  turf  for  the  money.” 

Investigator  estimated  that  there  were  three  boys  to  every  girl. 
He  asked  different  boys  why  the  fellows  didn’t  dance  more.  Three 
told  him  that  the  boys  come  to  the  dance  to  get  a girl  to  go  home 
with. 

There  were  quite  a number  of  boys  under  age  who  were  served  with 
drinks  at  the  bar,  19  of  them  could  not  have  been  over  18  years  of 
age. 

(X811),  corner  (X812)  and  (X813)  streets.  The  dance  hall  is  on 
the  second  floor  with  a balcony  surrounding  it.  The  bar  is  in  the 
front  end  and  nearby  two  rooms  filled  with  tables  and  chairs. 


192 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


The  owner  of  the  building  is  (X814).  He  also  owns  the  saloon 
on  the  ground  floor.  The  rear  room  of  this  saloon  is  filled  with  settees, 
closed  in  so  that  no  one  can  see  those  at  the  tables.  Prostitutes 
soliciting  on  the  street  frequent  this  rear  room.  In  addition  some  of 
the  girls  who  attend  the  dance  on  the  floor  above  come  here,  some  with 
and  some  without  escorts. 

(X815)  is  the  manager  for  the  dance  hall.  He  lives  with  a 
girl  named  (X815a),  who  acts  as  his  cashier. 

Investigator  recognized  a number  of  girls  from  the  South  Side, 
whom  he  knew  to  be  professional  prostitutes. 

The  large  percentage  of  the  girls  at  the  dance  October  10th  were 
immoral,  and  would  go  out  for  money.  Others  go  with  boys  and 
men  whom  they  like. 

The  investigator  declares  that  a great  many  of  the  girls  at  the  dance 
were  apparently  under  age.  They  all  were  sensed  with  drinks.  Some 
became  intoxicated,  and  had  to  be  carried  out  of  the  room. 

One  girl  acknowledged  to  a doctor,  who  was  with  the  investigator, 
that  she  had  syphilis,  but  did  not  have  enough  money  to  have  it  treated. 
She  pointed  out  three  other  girls  in  the  same  condition,  and  said  that 
there  were  others  who  were  diseased. 

During  the  evening  quite  a number  of  the  girls  were  seen  to  go  to 
the  (X816)  and  (X817)  cafes.  Afterwards,  between  12  and  1 : 30  A. 
M.  investigator  counted  14  couples  enter  (X818)  hotel.  He  had  seen 
these  couples  at  the  dance  earlier  in  the  night.  Hotel  (X819)  and 
(X820)  hotel,  both  assignation  places,  are  in  this  neighborhood. 

(X821)  hall,  (X822)  35th  street.  On  the  evening  of  October  3rd, 
according  to  the  investigator’s  estimate,  there  were  about  125  girls 
and  women  at  the  dance.  The  ages  were  from  16  to  25.  Investigator 
talked  with  5 girls  whom  he  knew  to  be  professional  prostitutes ; two 
from  a flat  on  the  corner  of  (X823)  street  and  (X824)  avenue,  one 
from  a flat  on  (X825)  avenue,  and  two  who  said  the}'  were  from  Mrs. 
(X826)  near  (X827)  avenue  on  the  (X828)  side  of  the  street. 

Investigator  talked  with  4 girls  from  (X829)  store  and  with  one 
from  (X830)  department  store. 

One  of  the  girls  showed  investigator  a comb  which  (X831)  gave 
her.  She  further  said  that  she  goes  out  with  (X831)  two  nights 
each  week  and  he  takes  her  to  the  (X833)  hotel,  (X834)  street  and 
(X835)  avenue.  She  ofifered  to  make  a date  with  investigator. 

The  other  girls  also  ofifered  to  make  dates.  One  said  she  had  3 
steady  friends,  one  of  whom  has  a private  room  with  a friend  which 
he  keeps  for  the  purpose  of  taking  girls.  This  room  she  said  was 
on  (X836)  street  near  (X837)  avenue,  but  she  would  not  give  the 
number. 

Investigator  talked  with  another  girl  whom  he  had  met  in  the 
rear  room  of  (X838)  saloon  on  (X839)  avenue,  near  (X8-W_)  street, 
and  she  had  solicited  him.  He  asked  her  if  she  was  still  living  with 
her  “cadet.”  She  replied  that  she  was  but  he  had  gone  to  Milwaukee 
for  a few  days  and  had  taken  nearly  all  of  her  money. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


193 


The  majority  of  the  girls  at  the  dance  on  this  particular  evening 
were  from  16  to  20  years  of  age,  and  many  of  them  were  very  good 
looking. 

The  conditions  in  this  hall  appeared  to  be  so  revolting  that  it  was 
determined  to  send  another  investigator  of  entirely  different  type  to 
verify  the  other’s  report.  This  was  done  on  October  23rd.  The 
following  is  his  condensed  report,  substantiating  the  former  investiga- 
tion. 

(X841)  hall,  (X842)  35th  street.  On  second  floor.  Benches  about 
the  room.  Extreme  left  is  a stairway  leading  to  the  rear  room  of  the 
saloon  on  the  ground  floor.  Girls  from  the  dance  hall  mingled  with 
immoral  women  who  solicit  in  this  rear  room. 

The  charge  for  admittance  to  the  dance  hall  is  25  cents,  with  10 
cents  extra  for  wardrobe  check. 

A large  number  of  the  girls  were  quite  young.  Investigators  talked 
with  two  who  were  15  years  of  age.  Many  appeared  to  be  from  16 
to  18  years  of  age. 

The  language  used  by  the  girls  and  their  men  acquaintances  is  un- 
printable. Investigator  talked  with  several  of  the  girls.  Among  them 
the  following : • 

Rosie.  Sixteen  years  old.  Said  she  had  no  home.  All  she  pos- 
sessed was  the  clothes  she  wore.  At  one  time  she  was  in  a house  of 
prostitution,  but  was  not  allowed  to  stay  because  she  appeared  to  be 
so  young, 

Girl.  Name  not  secured.  Said  she  had  been  to  a hotel  the  previ- 
ous Saturday  night.  She  was  going  home  on  this  particular  even- 
ing, but  would  go  out  for  all  night  the  following  Wednesday,  if  in- 
vestigator would  come  to  the  dance  hall  and  get  her.  She  said  that 
many  of  the  fellows  who  come  to  this  dance  hall  go  out  with  her. 
“The  fellows  and  girls  are  always  changing  off.”  She  does  not  take 
money  but  the  fellows  buy  her  breakfasts.  She  works  in  the  (X842a). 

This  dance  hall  is  owned  by  (X843),  and  his  manager  is  (X844). 
(X845)  also  owns  the  (X846)  hall,  (X447),  the  manager  of  the 
(X848),  lives  with  a girl  called  (X849),  who  solicits  in  (X850)  cafe. 
Her  parents  live  at  (X851)  street,  between  (X852)  and  (X853) 
streets. 

(X854),  (X855)  North  Clark  street.  In  1900  (X856),  a cab- 
driver  opened  this  hall  under  the  name  of  (X857).  In  1906  the  name 
was  changed  to  the  (X858). 

One  of  the  worst  features  of  this  dance  hall  is  the  number  of  pro- 
fessional prostitutes  and  cadets  who  come  to  the  dances.  It  is  es- 
timated that  75  per  cent,  of  the  girls  who  come  here  on  weekday 
nights  are  prostitutes.  An  innocent  girl  is  in  great  danger  for  the 
cadets  are  constantly  on  the  lookout  for  them. 

On  Saturday  and  Sunday  night  the  attendance  is  about  300.  The 
girls  are  from  17  to  25  years  of  age.  Many  of  the  girls  are  wait- 
resses, house  maids,  and  clerks  in  department  stores.  They  are  called 
“charity,”  as  they  do  not  charge  for  their  services. 


194 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


The  dance  hall  is  on  the  3rd  floor  of  the  building.  The  cafe  or 
bar  is  on  the  floor  below.  There  is  a'  private  wine  room  on  this 
floor,  in  which  (X859)  entertains  girls  whom  he  has  taken  a fancy 
to.  Just  off  of  this  room  is  another  private  room  furnished  in  elab- 
orate style  including  a couch.  It  is  asserted  that  (X859)  has  used  this 
room  for  purposes  of  seduction. 

By  12:30  A.  M.  on  the  nights  of  the  dances  many  of  the  girls 
were  intoxicated,  and  were  “picked  up”  by  young  men  who  frequented 
the  place  for  that  purpose.  There  are  a few  assignation  hotels  in 
the  vicinity.  One  is  the  (X861)  on  the  corner  of  (X862)  and  (X863) 
streets. 

_ Among  the  cadets  seen  here  was  Robert  (X864),  who  at  present  is 
living  at  the  (X865)  hotel  with  a girl  called  “Jessie”  (X866).  This 
girl  is  a prostitute  in  a house  at  (X867)  avenue. 

(X868)  hall,  (X869)  22nd  street.  This  dance  hall  is  the  most  no- 
torious place  in  Chicago.  In  fact  it  is  to  Chicago  what  the  Haymarket 
is  to  New  York.  A description  is  given  here  in  order  to  contrast  it 
with  the  other  dance  halls  described  above  on  the  proposition  that 
some  of  them  are  to  all  intents  and  purposes  just  as  much  a part 
of  the  expression  of  this  phase  of  prostitution. 

The  only  difference  is  that  no  respectable  girl  enters  (X868),  unless 
taken  there  by  silly  and  thoughtless  people,  who  want  to  show  the 
sights  of  the  city.  Every  girl  who  frequents  this  place  is  a professional 
prostitute,  groomed  and  trained  to  coax  money  out  of  the  pockets 
of  visitors  for  the  benefit  of  the  managers  and  then  to  persuade  them 
to  go  to  a hotel  or  to  their  own  flats.  One  of  the  rules  of  this  place  is 
that  a girl  is  supposed  to  make  each  man  spend  at  least  40  cents  for 
every  round  of  drinks. 

The  price  of  admission  to  men  is  25  cents,  in  addition  to  a tip  of 
10  cents  for  checking  a hat. 

The  building  in  which  this  hall  is  located  is  owned  by  (X871),  who 
leases  it  to  a combination  like  the  following: 

(X872),  (X873),  owner  of  the  (X874)  cafe,  and  one  other  per- 
son, who  is  said  to  be  a representative  of  (X875).  (X876)  acts  as 

manager  for  this  trio. 

The  entertainment  in  this  place  is  given  by  two  men  and  one  woman 
singer.  These  men  pass  the  basket  and  the  collection  goes  to  help 
defray  the  expenses.  The  singers  are  paid  $30  per  week. 

After  a song,  an  orchestra  in  the  balcony  begins  to  play,  and  the 
“guests”  form  in  couples  and  dance. 

The  girls  are  very  aggressive,  and  do  not  wait  for  an  invitation, 
but  sit  down  at  the  tables,  and  as  pointed  out  above,  order  a round 
of  drinks  that  costs  no  less  than  40  cents. 

The  mixed  drinks  brought  to  the  prostitutes  are  counterfeit.  For 
instance  the  girl  orders  a “B”  ginger  ale  highball.  This  is  colored 
water  made  in  imitation  of  this  drink.  The  cost  is  probably  less  than 
a cent,  but  the  victim  pays  25  or  50  cents  for  it. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


195 


The  business  is  run  in  a systematic  manner;  the  prostitutes  must  be 
in  their  places  at  9:00  P.  M.  If  they  are  tardy,  the  manager  “calls 
them  down.”  The  force  of  prostitute  attaches  numbers  about  20  at  the 
present  time.  They  charge  $5.00  and  generally  go  to  the  (X877) 
hotel  at  the  corner  of  (X878)  and  (X879)  streets.  The  price  of  the 
room  here  is  usually  $5.00  and  the  girl  gets  half.  If  she  wants  it 
cheaper,  she  will  hold  up  a certain  number  of  fingers  indicating  the 
price  to  be  charged.  The  woman  in  attendance  at  the  (X877)  hotel 
is  colored  and  they  call  her  (X881). 

The  following  are  among  the  prostitutes  who  solicit  in  this  dance 
hall  and  act  as  assistants  to  the  managers  in  the  sale  of  liquor. 

(X886).  This  girl  is  called  (X887)  on  account  of  her  beauty  and 
money  making  ability.  She  came  from  New  York  City  three  years 
ago.  Is  about  24  years  of  age;  has  been  married  twice.  About  five 
months  ago  she  entered  the  (X888),  where  she  stayed  two  weeks. 
During  this  period  she  became  a pervert,  and  this  has  added  to  her 
popularity  with  the  men,  particularly  those  who  are  advanced  in  years. 

After  returning  to  the  dance  hall  she  met  an  entertainer  named 
(X889)  with  whom  she  now  lives  on  (X890)  street,  near  (X891)  ave- 
nue, and  bears  his  name.  He  sings  in  nickel  theaters  and  restaurants. 

Violet  (X893).  About  21  years  of  age.  Came  to  Chicago  about 
two  years  ago  from  (X894),  Illinois,  where  her  parents  still  live. 
She  lives  with  a (X895)  named  (X896),  at  (X897)  avenue.  Violet 
became  immoral  when  she  was  15  years  old,  and  left  (X894)  because 
she  fell  in  love  with  a married  man,  who  would  not  leave  his  wife. 

Rosie  (X899),  alias  Rosie  (X900).  About  20  years  of  age.  Came 
from  (X900a),  Minnesota,  about  two  years  ago.  Violet  (X901)  is 
her  chum.  Rosie  lives  with  (X901)  at  (X903)  avenue. 

Bebe,  correct  name  Bebe  (X904).  Came  to  (X905)  about  three 
years  ago.  For  the  past  two  years  has  lived  with  a fellow  named 
(X906),  who  was  an  entertainer  in  the  dance  hall.  Last  year  (X906) 
was  arrested  for  mistreating  a 7 year  old  girl.  He  has  a wife  living 
in  (X908).  Bebe  recently  quarreled  with  (X906),  and  she  sent  for 
his  wife  who  had  him  arrested.  He  is  now  living  in  (X910)  with 
his  wife.  Bebe  lives  with  (X911),  a waiter  in  the  (X912)  cafe. 

Marcella  (X913),  alias  Tantine  (X914).  About  20  years  of  age. 
Was  born  in  (X915),  Wisconsin.  Came  to  Chicago  about  two  years 
ago  and  started  to  work  in  the  (X916)  department  store.  One  of  the 
managers  insisted  on  taking  her  out,  which  she  finally  had  to  do  “to 
hold  her  job,”  as  she  asserts.  At  one  time,  she  declared,  she  had  a 
miscarriage  in  the  store.  Finally  she  left  the  (X917)  and  became  a 
waitress  for  (X918)  and  Company  at  (X919)  Park.  While  here  she 
started  to  go  to  dances  at  (X920)  hall.  One  night  she  met  a girl 
who  induced  her  to  go  to  (X921)  cafe  to  “hustle.”  At  this  time  she 
lived  at  (X922)  avenue.  Her  married  brother  heard  that  she  was 
“hustling”  and  made  her  come  to  live  with  him  on  (X923),  near 
(X924)  avenue.  Afterward  she  left  her  brother,  and  entered  a flat 
operated  by  Mrs.  (X925),  room  (X926),  (X927)  apartment  building, 


196 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(X928)  avenue  and  (X929)  street.  Two  months  after  she  began  so- 
liciting she  was  infected,  and  was  confined  in  the  Cook  County  Hos- 
pital for  two  weeks.  She  has  solicited  in  (X930),  a saloon  on  the 
corner  of  (X931)  and  (X932)  streets. 

Rosie  (X933).  About  21  years  of  age.  Her  parents  live  at  the 
(X934)  hotel  at  present.  She  was  married  at  one  time  to  (X935), 
but  secured  a divorce  because  he  was  a pervert. 

Babette  (X936).  Solicits  in  (X937)  and  (X938).  She  is  about 
19  years  of  age.  She  lives  with  (X939),  'a  salesman  for  (X940), 
northeast  corner  of  (X951)  and  (X942)  streets.  His  salary  is  $20 
per  week.  He  first  met  her  at  the  (X943)  hall,  where  she  attended 
dances  when  she  first  came  to  the  city.  They  live  at  the  (X944) 
hotel  or  flats  at  (X945)  avenue  and  (X946)  street,  telephone  (X947). 

Mag  (X947a).  Correct  name  is  (X948),  home  in  (X949),  Ohio. 
Parents  still  live  there.  Told  investigator  she  was  16  years  old.  Said 
(X876),  manager  of  (X868),  instructed  her  to  tell  everybody  that 
she  is  19,  and  that  if  he  ever  found  out  that  she  told  anyone  her  right 
age,  she  would  be  put  out  and  he  would  “beat  her  up  beside.”  Hag’s 
chum  also  told  investigator  that  she  (Hag)  was  only  16.  She  also 
said  that  Mag  would  be  getting  into  trouble  soon.  iMag  said  she 
was  sending  money  home  as  her  parents  needed  it.  Her  father  is  a 
drunkard,  she  said.  She  has  two  sisters. 

Tantine  (X952).  About  19  years  of  age.  Is  a blonde.  Has  been  a 
prostitute  for  three  years.  Been  soliciting  in  (X953)  for  six  months. 
She  lives  at  (X954)  Wabash  avenue.  Flat  (X955).  Quite  a num- 
ber of  prostitutes  live  in  this  flat.  She  pays  four  dollars  per  week 
for  room  and  bath. 

Tantine’s  parents  live  in  (X956).  She  went  home  last  summer,  and 
told  her  parents  she  was  married  and  had  a “rich  husband.” 

When  she  was  16  years  of  age  she  met  a man  named  (X957),  who 
promised  to  marry  her,  and  on  the  strength  of  this  promise  seduced 
her.  They  then  planned  to  elope.  He  took  her  to  (X958),  Wyoming, 
and  put  her  in  a sporting  house. 

The  following  is  given  in  practically  her  own  words: 

“I  was  a little  mutt,  then,  and  I did  not  know  where  I was. 
The  landlady  just  asked  my  name  and  how  old  I was.  I told  her 
16.  She  said  I looked  it.  You  bet  I did.  I wore  my  hair  in  a 
braid,  and  it  was  parted  in  the  center  flat  on  my  head.  I also 
wore  short  skirts.  It  was  a pretty  house,  and  the  madame  told 
me  to  stay  up  in  my  room.  She  asked  how  I came  to  know 
(X957),  and  I told  her  he  was  my  husband.  I did  not  see  him 
again  until  late  that  night.  In  a short  while  the  landlady  called 
me  down  from  my  room  and  introduced  me  to  an  elderly  gen- 
tleman, and  told  me  to  go  up  to  my  room  with  him.  I told  her 
I did  not  want  to  go  up  to  my  room  with  any  one  but  my  hus- 
band. She  said  that  man  was  going  to  give  me  a whole  lot  of 
money,  if  I just  went  up  to  my  room  with  him.  I finally  decided 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


197 


to  go  up  with  him.  He  asked  me  if  I wanted  some  wine.  I 
told  him  no.  Then  the  landlady  called  me  aside  and  said  ‘Order 
it  anyway,  and  if  you  can’t  drink  it,  why  ditch  it.’  When  we 
got  up  to  my  room,  I said,  ‘Yes,  I’ll  have  some  wine,  and  ditch  it.’ 
He  started  to  laugh,  and  called  the  landlady  up  and  told  her  what 
I had  said.  The  landlady  laughed  and  said,  ‘She  is  only  a little 
rum,  don’t  mind  her.’  He  then  explained  to  me  that  ‘ditch  it’ 
meant  to  throw  it  away,  when  he  was  not  looking. 

After  talking  for  a short  while,  he  said  it  was  about  time  that 
he  made  me  work.  I asked  what  he  meant,  and  he  said,  ‘Take 
your  clothes  off,  and  I’ll  show  you.’  I felt  highly  insulted  and 
told  him  so.  He  then  told  me  where  I was,  and  what  I was  up 
against,  and  I started  to  cry.  He  then  gave  me  $50  and  told  me 
to  go  home  to  my  mother,  ’cause  he  said  that  was  where  I be- 
longed. 

I did  not  see  anybody  else  that  day,  and  late  that  night  (X957) 
came  back  and  told  me  that  he  already  was  married  and  he  had 
a child.  He  said  that  he  was  going  to  (X961)  to  get  a divorce 
and  then  marry  me.  At  the  same  time  he  took  the  $50  away 
from  me. 

I was  only  here  one  day,  because  the  next  day  I met  a fellow 
who  was  going  to  (X962),  and  he  asked  me  to  go  along.  I con- 
sented and  went  with  him.  I lived  with  him  for  nearly  a year. 
He  was  the  second  fellow  I ever  stayed  with.  (X957)  actually 
violated  me.  He  forced  me,  and  I was  going  to  tell  my  mother 
only  he  promised  to  marry  me.  No,  I did  not  like  him  so  very 
much. 

While  in  (X964)  city,  I had  a quarrel  with  my  fellow,  and 
left  him.  I took  the  train  for  (X965),  because  I had  heard  so 
much  about  it.  I “hustled”  there  for  about  a week,  when  I met 
(X966),  a very  prominent  doctor  of  (X965).  He  was  a mar- 
ried man,  and  he  put  me  up  in  a swell  hotel  and  gave  me  all 
the  money  I needed ; he  only  came  to  see  me  about  three  times  a 
week.  All  went  well  for  about  a month  until  one  day  I was  ar- 
rested by  the  chief  of  police  himself.  He  took  me  into  his  of- 
fice, and  showed  me  a picture  of  myself  which  my  father  and 
mother  had  sent  him  in  order  to  locate  me.  I denied  that  I was 
Tantine  and  said  I did  not  have  any  parents  and  that  I came  from 
(X968).  He  then  asked  me  to  name  a few  of  the  principal 
streets  of  (X968)  and  I was  stuck.  I told  him  I could  not  re- 
member them  now,  as  I was  not  there  very  long,  as  I spent  most 
of  my  life  in  (X968).  He  asked  me  about  (X968),  and  I got 
away  with  that  all  right.  I then  told  him  that  that  picture  could 
not  be  of  me  as  I was  much  older.  I did  age  fearfully  after 
that.  I look  much  older  than  19,  don’t  I?  He  talked  to  me  for 
about  two  hours,  and  I bullied  him,  and  he  finally  let  me  go. 

Everything  was  all  right  until  one  day  I ran  into  a fellow 
from  home  who  also  knew  (X966).  He  promised  to  take  me  to 


198 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Chicago  and  I decided  to  go  with  him.  He  then  wrote  to  (X973)., 
who  was  in  (X974)  at  the  time  with  his  wife  and  child.  When  we 
arrived  in  Chicago  my  friend  put  me  in  (X975)  house,  (X976) 
Dearborn  street.  About  a week  later  (X957)  and  his  wife  came  to 
Chicago.  He  came  up  to  see  me  and  wanted  me  to  live  with 
him.  I bawled  him  out  and  threatened  to  turn  him  over  to  the 
police  or  kill  him,  if  I ever  saw  him  again.  That  same  day  his 
wife  came  over  to  see  me  and  she  told  me  that  he  did  the  same 
thing  to  her.  He  seduced  her  and  when  she  had  a baby  her  folks 
made  him  marry  her.  She  said  he  was  leading  her  and  the 
child  a dog’s  life,  but  she  stuck  for  the  child’s  sake.  He  was  the 
prettiest  baby  I ever  saw.  I believe  they  are  living  in  (X978) 
now. 

I left  (X975)  house  in  about  two  months,  and  have  been  in 
a lot  of  houses.  I have  been  in  places  where  they  graft,  almost 
hold  you  up.  I have  hustled  on  the  street.  Yes,  I used  to  pay 
lots  of  protection  money  to  policemen.  But  I got  wise  in  time. 
If  they  threaten  to  pinch  me,  why  I say,  go  ahead  and  pinch 
me,  then  they  won’t.  No,  you  can’t  make  any  money  hustling 
on  the  street  any  more.  If  you  want  to  be  in  right  you  have 
got  to  give  half  of  what  you  make  to  the  coppers.  No,  I never 
knew  any  of  their  names,  but  I could  point  them  out  to  you 
any  time.  Hell,  they  all  graft.  There  is  not  a policeman  around 
here  that  doesn’t  hold  us  girls  up,  and  I know  it  from  experience. 
But  you  see  us  girls  who  have  been  around  a long  time  get  wise, 
and  they  don’t  get  a nickel  out  of  me  any  more. 

I go  home  at  3 : 00  A.  M.  every  morning,  and  I don’t  hustle 
any  place  any  more  but  here.  I think  I make  more  than  any  of 
the  girls  around  here,  and  I don’t  spend  it  on  booze  like  the  rest 
of  them.  That’s  why  they  never  have  anything.  I make  on  an 
average  of  $100  a week.  That’s  pretty  good,  isn’t  it?  Well, 
come  up  to  the  house  some  afternoon,  and  see  me.  No,  I don’t 
live  with  anybody.  It  don’t  pay.” 

Enforcement  of  the  Law  and  Ordinances.  On  June  6,  1910,  the 
ordinance  regarding  bar  permits  went  into  effect.  From  this  date 
until  October  31,  1910,  the  Department  issued  1,207  bar  permits.  Of 
this  number  1,157  were  issued  for  places  where  dances  were  to  be 
held.  None  of  the  surety  bonds  on  which  these  permits  have  been 
granted  have  been  forfeited  during  that  time. 


DEPARTMENT  STORES. 

As  an  introduction  to  the  study  of  Department  Stores  it  may  be 
well  to  call  particular  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  present  economic 
and  insanitary  conditions  under  which  the  girls  employed  in  factories 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


199 


and  department  stores  live  and  work,  has  an  et¥ect  on  the  nervous 
forces  of  the  girl  in  such  a way  as  to  render  her  much  more  susceptible 
to  prostitution. 

This  is  true  as  a basis.  The  whole  tendency  of  modern  life,  which 
places  a greater  strain  on  the  nervous  system  of  both  men  and  women 
of  all  classes  than  has  ever  been  placed  at  any  time  in  the  history  of 
the  civilized  world,  cannot  but  help,  to  a great  extent,  develop  consid" 
erable  eroticism.  The  sexual  senses  of  the  brain,  as  well  as  the  sem- 
inal  parts,  are  from  the  very  nature  of  their  natural  functions,  sus- 
ceptible organisms  and  they  will  be  the  most  readily  influenced  by 
modes  of  life,  and  highly  speeded  modern  life  must  stimulate  these 
organisms. 

It  is  a sound  medical  fact  that  practically  the  same  condition  in 
regard  to  stimulation  of  nerve  cells  exists  at  the  point  of  extreme  ex- 
haustion, where  a person  has  a feeling  of  strength  which  is  unnatural, 
and  that  point  is  usually  reached  after  exceedingly  hard  and  exacting 
labor,  or  at  the  point  where  high  feeling,  improper  exercise,  and  a 
considerable  amount  of  alcohol  can  bring  the  nerves  to  a point  of 
stimulation.  That  is  the  explanation  of  the  fact  that  people  try  to  dis- 
prove the  economic  explanation  of  prostitution  frorh  the  fact  that  there 
are  people  of  all  classes  of  society  addicted  to  immorality. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  it  has  not  been  possible  to  undertake  a full 
investigation  of  hours  of  labor  and  the  results  of  nervous  strain  caused 
by  machinery  and  occupations  where  machinery  is  chiefly  employed  and 
operated  by  women  and  girls. 

Without  this  accurate  economic  data,  it  is  practically  impossible  to 
establish  a Arm  foundation  on  which  to  deal  with  the  sources  of  vice 
in  its  various  forms. 

This  lack  of  data  is  supplied,  to  a degree,  by  the  following  quota- 
tions showing  the  effect  of  this  nervous  strain  upon  working  people, 
men,  women  and  girls. 


D.  BAD  EFFECT  OF  LONG  HOURS  ON  MORALS. 

“The  effect  of  overwork  on  morals  is  closely  related  to  the  injury 
to  health.  Laxity  of  moral  fibre  follows  physical  debility.  When  the 
working  day  is  so  long  that  no  time  whatever  is  left  for  a minimum 
of  leisure  or  home  life,  relief  from  the  strain  of  work  is  sought  in 
alcoholic  stimulants  and  other  excesses.”  Massachusetts  Legislative 
Document  House,  1866,  No.  98. 


200 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


“Overwork  is  the  fruitful  source  of  innumerable  evils.  Ten  and 
eleven  hours  daily  of  hard  labor  are  more  than  the  human  system 
can  bear,  save  in  a few  exceptional  cases.  * * * It  cripples  the  body, 
ruins  health,  shortens  life.  It  stunts  the  mind,  gives  no  time  for 
culture,  no  opportunities  for  reading,  study  or  mental  improvement.  It 
leaves  the  system  jaded  and  worn,  with  no  ability  to  study.  * * * It 
tends  to  dissipation  in  various  forms.  The  exhausted  system  craves 
stimulants.  This  opens  the  door  to  other  indulgences,  from  which 
flow  not  only  the  degeneracy  of  individuals,  but  the  degeneracy  of  the 
race.”  (Page  24.)  Relations  between  Labor  and  Capital.  U.  S. 
Senate  Committee,  1883.  Vol.  I. 

‘T  have  noticed  that  the  hard  slavish  overwork  is  driving  those  girls 
into  the  saloons,  after  they  leave  the  mills  evenings  * * * good  re- 
spectable girls,  but  they  come  out  so  tired  and  so  thirsty  and  ex- 
hausted * * * from  working  along  steadily  from  hour  to  hour  and 
breathing  the  noxious  effluvia  from  the  grease  and  other  ingredients 
used  in  the  mill.”  Testimony  of  Robert  Howard,  Mulespinner  in  Fall 
River  Cotton  Mills. ^ 

E.  BAD  EFFECT  OF  FATIGUE  UPON  MORALS. 2 

The  dangers  attendant  upon  excessive  working  hours  are  shown 
also  by  the  moral  degeneration  which  results  from  over  fatigue.  Laxity 
of  moral  fibre  follows  physical  debility.  When  the  working  day  is  so 
long  that  no  time  is  left  for  a minimum  of  leisure  and  recreation,  re- 
lief from  the  strain  of  work  is  often  sought  in  alcoholic  stimulants. 
In  extreme  cases  the  moral  breakdown  leads  to  mental  degeneracy 
and  criminal  acts. 

(1)  GENERAL  LOSS  OF  MORAL  RESTRAINTS. 

“There  can  be  little  doubt  that  working  10  hours  a day  would  be 
more  favorable  to  health  and  the  enjoyment  of  life  than  12  hours 
a day  can  be;  but  without  entering  into  the  question  of  health,  no  one 
will  hesitate,  I think,  to  admit  that,  in  a moral  point  of  view,  so  en- 
tire an  absorption  of  the  time  of  the  working  classes  * * * must  be 
extremely  prejudicial,  and  is  -^an  evil  greatly  to  be  deplored.  Some 
there  are,  undoubtedly,  who,  by  more  than  ordinary  natural  energy, 
overcame  this  disadvantage;  but  with  the  great  mass  it  has  had  the 

^These  extracts  were  taken  from  the  decision  of  The  United  States 
Supreme  Court  in  the  case  of  Curt  Muller  v.  State  of  Oregon,  upholding 
the  constitutionality  of  the  10  hour  law  for  women  and  Brief  for  State  of 
Oregon  by  Louis  B.  Brandeis. 

^Brief  and  Argument  in  case  of  Ritchie  et  al.  v.  Wayman  and  Davies. 
Filed  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  by  Louis  B.  Brandeis  at  the  Decem- 
ber, 1909,  term. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


201 


effect  of  rendering  them  ignorant,  prejudiced,  addicted  to  coarse 
sensual  indulgences,  and  susceptible  of  being  led  into  mischief  and 
violence  by  any  appeal  to  their  passions  or  prejudices.  With  so  few 
opportunities  of  mental  culture,  and  of  moral  and  religious  training, 
it  is  surprising  that  there  should  be  so  many  respectable  and  virtuous 
people  among  them.  For  the  sake,  therefore,  of  public  morals,  of 
bringing  up  an  orderly  population,  and  of  giving  the  great  body  of  the 
people  an  enjoyment  of  life,  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that  in  all  trades 
some  portion  of  every  working  day  should  be  reserved  for  rest  and 
leisure.”  (Page  30.)  British  Sessional  Papers.  Vol.  XXII,  1842. 
Reports  of  Inspectors  of  Factories. 

“Wherever  you  go  * * * near  the  abodes  of  people  who  are  over 
worked,  you  will  alwa)"S  find  the  sign  of  the  rum  shop.  Drinking 
is  most  prevalent  among  working  people  where  the  hours  of  labor 
are  long.”  The  case  for  the  Factory  Acts.  Edited  by  Mrs.  Sidney 
Webb.  London,  1901. 

“If  working  long  and  irregular  hours,  accepting  a bare  subsistence 
wage  and  enduring  insanitary  conditions  tended  to  increase  women’s 
physical  strength  and  industrial  skill — if  these  conditions  or  unregu- 
lated industry  ecen  left  unimpaired  the  woman’s  natural  stock  of 
strength  and  skill — we  might  regard  factory  legislation  as  irrelevant. 
But  as  a matter  of  fact  a whole  century  of  evidence  proves  exactly  the 
contrary.  To  have  women’s  labor  unregulated  by  law  means  inev- 
itably to  leave  it  exposed  to  terribly  deteriorating  influences.  The 
woman’s  lack  of  skill  and  lack  of  strength  is  made  worse  by  lack  of 
regulation.  And  there  is  still  a further  deterioration.  Anyone  who 
has  read  the  evidence  given  in  the  various  inquiries  into  the  Sweating 
System  will  have  been  struck  by  the  invariable  coincidence  of  a low 
standard  of  regularity,  sobriety  and  morality,  with  the  conditions  to 
which  women,  under  free  competition  are  exposed.”  (Page  209.) 
Dangerous  Trades.  Thomas  Oliver,  M.  D.,  London. 

“On  the  morals  of  the  workers  there  has  been  a marked  effect.” 

If  working  long  and  irregular  hours,  accepting  a bare  subsistence 
wage,  and  enduring  insanitary  conditions  tended  to  increase  women’s 
physical  strength  and  industrial  skill — if  these  conditions  of  unregu- 
lated industry  even  left  unimpaired  the  woman’s  natural  stock  of 
strength  and  skill — we  might  regard  factory  legislation  as  irrelevant. 
But  as  a matter  of  fact  a whole  century  of  evidence  proves  exactly  the 
contrary.  To  leave  women’s  labor  unregulated  by  law  means  inev- 
itably to  leave  it  exposed  to  terribly  deteriorating  influences.  , The 
woman’s  lack  of  skill  and  lack  of  strength  is  made  worse  by  lack  of 
regulation.  And  there  is  still  a further  deterioration.  Any  one  who 
has  read  the  evidence  given  in  the  various  inquiries  into  the  Sweating 
System  will  have  been  struck  by  the  invariable  coincidence  of  a low 
standard  of  regularity,  sobriety  and  morality,  with  the  conditions  to 
which  women,  under  free  competition,  are  exposed.  (Pages  209-210.) 


202 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


The  Case  of  the  Factory  Acts.  Edited  by  Mrs.  Sidney  Webb,  London, 
Richards,  1901. 

“Girls  in  factories  are  expected  to  keep  up  a certain  ‘pace,’  while 
at  work,  and  ten  hours  of  driving  work  at  a hot  pace  are  not  to  be 
considered  conducive  to  good  health  physically  or  to  leave  the  worker 
in  any  humor  for  applying  herself  to  educational  improvement.  Dances 
and  shows  will  be  the  most  attractive  things  to  be  indulged  in  after 
work,  if  the  chance  offer.”  (Pages  33-34.)  Charities  and  the  Com- 
mons. March  6,  1909.  Vol.  XXI.  No.  23.  New  York.  The  In- 
dustrial Environment  of  Pittsburgh’s  Working  Women.  Elizabeth 
Beardsley  Butler,  Eormer  Secretary  New  Jersey  Consumers’  League. 

“Although  very  many  girls  are  brought  here,  innocently  betrayed 
into  a slavery  rigid  in  its  strictness  and  purports  in  its  nature,  the  price 
offered  to  the  victim  is  only  that  of  higher  wages  and  better  economic 
conditions,  the  greater  number  of  women  who  have  already  been 
living  an  immoral  life  abroad,  and  who  come  to  the  United  States 
willingly  to  continue  open-eyed  practices  of  their  former  life,  come  to 
secure  higher  wages,  often  profit  ten  times  as  great  as  they  have  re- 
ceived in  Europe,  though  they  are  subject  to  their  pimps,  and  have 
little  or  no  opportunity  to  save  for  themselves,  there  is  yet  the  op- 
portunity for  higher  gains,  a higher  economic  standard  of  living,  an 
opportunity  for  travel  and  the  interest  of  a new  environment,  and 
perhaps  at  times  a hope  of  real  betterment  of  conditions.”  Page  6 — 
Senate  Document  196. 

There  are  many  men  who  own  large  establishments,  who  pay  wages 
which  simply  drive  women  into  prostitution. 

Some  of  the  girls  who  are  most  tempted,  and  enter  lives  of  pros- 
titution, work  in  the  big  department  stores,  surrounded  by  luxuries, 
which  all  of  them  crave,  and  sell  large  quantities  of  those  luxuries 
for  a wage  compensation  of  about  $7.00  or  $8.00  a week,  and  even 
less. 

This  subject  is  treated  in  the  Pittsburg  Survey  under  the  head  of 
“The  Woman  and  the  Trades,”  published  by  the  Russell  Sage  Eounda- 
tion.  On  page  305,  the  writer  said : 

“Where  the  store  is  particular  as  to  the  mode  of  life  of  its  em- 
ployes, and  makes  it  a point  of  dismissing  those  who  offend  against  its 
standards,  the  percentage  of  girls  that  lead  irregular  lives  is  lower 
than  in  those  stores  where  it  is  sometimes  tolerated  and  sometimes 
encouraged;  yet  from  among  the  girls  theniselves,  and  those  dealing 
with  it  from  those  sources,  my  information  is  that  in  the  moral 
jeopardy  of  shop  girls  lies  one  of  the  serious  problems  of  the  women 
employed  in  trades.” 

In  all  large  cities  there  is  a system  of  common  school  education, 
which  is  thorough  and  very  good  in  most  cases.  It  educates  the  de- 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


203 


sires  of  young  boys  and  girls  to  a point  of  at  least  decent  living  in 
comfort.  It  also  gives  them  the  power  of  analyzing  their  own  posi- 
tions, and  the  positions  of  those  who  surround  them.  It  is  inevitable 
that  when  such  young  men  and  young  women  go  out  into  life,  they 
should  be  very  ambitious  that  in  a few  years  they  will  be  running  some 
establishment.  But  later  on  a man  reaches  $12.00  or  $15.00  a week, 
and  the  woman  $7.00  or  $8.00,  and  find  themselves  units  in  a vast 
array  of  clerical  and  office  help,  with  no  hope  for  bettering  their  con- 
dition. This  results  in  creating  a class  in  society,  too  intelligent  to 
burden  the  world  with  children  whom  they  cannot  support  and  edu- 
cate, and  fill  society  with  homes  where  only  the  father  works,  and 
homes  which  naturally  will  be  more  frequented  by  installment  col- 
lectors for  furniture,  than  by  happiness  or  any  other  socially  com- 
fortable thing. 

EXISTING  CONDITIONS. 

The  girl  in  the  department  store  is  confronted  with  certain  tempta- 
tions which  are  ever  pressing  harder  upon  her.  The  first  of  these 
is  the  procuress,  the  second  the  “cadet,”  and  the  third,  the  man  directly 
over  her,  who  may  even  be  the  manager  or  the  proprietor  himself. 

But  in  spite  of  these  temptations  it  is  only  fair  to  say  that  many 
of  these  girls  never  fall  before  these  allurements.  They  work  grimly 
on  enduring  and  suffering  to  the  end. 

It  has  been  established  after  exhaustive  study  that  it  is  quite  im- 
possible for  a working  girl  in  any  large  city  to  live  on  less  than  eight 
dollars  per  week,  yet  employers  of  these  department  stores  say  that 
they  pay  on  an  average  of  from  $6.00  to  $7.00  per  week. 

This  is  all  the  girls  are  worth,  they  maintain,  the  law  of  supply 
and  demand  regulates  all  this. 

And  because  the  unskilled  girl  workers  are  a drug  on  the  market 
the  employer  keeps  piling  up  enormous  profits  and  paying  great  divi- 
dends, sometimes  extra  dividends. 

In  writing  upon  this  subject  in  Pearson’s  Magazine  for  February, 
1911,  at  page  178,  Richard  Barry  refers  to  a census  taken  last  year  by 
the  Woman’s  Trade  Union  League  of  Chicago,  which  showed  that 
“from  25  per  cent,  to  30  per  cent,  of  the  women  employed  in  the 
department  stores  were  not  receiving  sufficient  money  to  enable  them 
to  procure  the  necessities  of  life.” 


204 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


And  again,  Mr.  Barry  calls  attention  to  the  work  of  a New  York 
home  for  women,  the  matron  of  which  is  said  to  have  declared  that 
“16  per  cent,  of  the  girls  who  applied  there  for  refuge,  have  entered  a 
life  of  immorality  in  the  greatest  city  in  the  country  because  of  in- 
sufficient wages,  which  do  not  allow  them  to  pay  for  food  and  lodg- 
ing.” 

Under  the  heading  “Profits  from  Prostitution  in  Chicago,”  in  this 
Commission’s  report,  attention  is  called  to  the  earnings  of  the  in- 
mates of  houses  of  prostitution  giving  as  an  average  $25.00  per  week 
or  $1,300.00  per  annum,  which  is  ultra  conservative.  This  is  five 
per  cent,  on  $26,000.00.  The  average  wage  paid  in  a department  store 
is  $6.00  per  week  or  $300.00  per  annum.  This  is  five  per  cent,  on 
$6,000.00.  In  other  words  a girl  represents  a capitalized  value  of 
$26,000.00  as  a professional  prostitute,  where  brains,  virtue  and  all 
good  things  are  “nil,”  or  more  than  four  times  as  much  as  she  is 
worth  as  a factor  in  the  industrial  and  social  economy  where  brains, 
intelligence,  virtue  and  womanly  charm  should  be  worth  a premium.^ 

Does  it  surprise  one  in  the  face  of  these  conditions  that  many  weak, 
tempted,  nervously  exhausted  girls  realizing  the  financial  profits  from 
the  sale  of  tjieir  virtue  enter  upon  what  they  believe  for  the  moment 
to  be  the  “easiest  way,”  only  to  experience  finally  its  sad  consequence  ? 

A former  salesgirl  in  a department  store  was  seen  in  a fashionable 
all-night  restaurant.  She  said  that  four  weeks  previous  she  had  been 
earning  $8.00  per  week.  She  enumerated  different  articles  of  clothing 
which  she  was  wearing,  and  gave  the  prices  of  each,  including  her  hat. 
The  total  amount  came  to  over  $200.00.  Her  eyes  had  been  opened 
to  her  earning  qapacity  in  the  “sporting”  life  by  a man  who  laughed 
at  her  for  wasting  her  good  looks  and  physical  charms  behind  a 
counter  for  a boss  who  was  growing  rich  from  her  services,  and  the 
services  of  others  like  her. 

A girl  who  had  been  employed  as  a misses’  model  in  another  de- 
partment store  at  $10.00  per  week  also  learned  that  she  could  easily 
become  a “$5.00”  girl,  by  frequenting  a notorious  dance  hall.  She  had  . 
been  in  this  hall  two  weeks  when  she  remarked  that  the  “graft”  was 
so  easy  she  was  almost  “ashamed  to  take  the  money,”  and  “it  beat  the 
department  store  game  all  to  hell.” 


^See  Chapter  I,  Existing  Conditions,  page  95. 


SOURCES  OE  SUPPLY 


205 


The  plain  blunt  facts  tell  more  than  pages  of  theorizing  on  the 
subject. 

Let  us  look  for  a moment  at  the  results  of  the  field  investigation  as 
undertaken  by  the  Commission  showing  some  of  the  methods  used  in 
the  stores,  the  wages  now  actually  being  paid  and  then  the  various 
forms  of  temptations  surrounding  the  girls. 

METHODS  USED  IN  THE  STORES. 

I.  Application  for  Employment.  The  application  blank  which  a 
prospective  salesgirl  must  fill  out  usually  contains  blanks  for  a record 
of  a girl’s  entire  business  experience,  as  well  as  educational  quali- 
fications, etc.  A study  of  these  application  blanks  would  be  intensely 
interesting  if  it  were  possible  to  obtain  them. 

II.  Rules.  These  rules  are  usually  very  elaborate  and  cover  a wide 
field.  One  rule  generally  conspicuous  calls  attention  of  the  employe 
to  dress  requirements. 

A case  is  on  record  where  a girl  actually  purchased  24  shirt  waists 
in  one  year  in  order  to  “be  cleanly  and  neat  in  appearance,  avoiding 
extravagance  and  display,”  as  required  by  the  rules.  Of  course  the 
I girl  knew  that  $5.00  waists  would  last  longer  than  98  cent  ones,  and  it 
j would  be  economical  to  buy  such  waists,  but  in  her  case  she  never 
could  amass  a sum  like  $5.00,  so  she  purchased  the  98  cent  ones, 
washed  them  once  or  twice  and  when  they  fell  to  pieces,  threw  them 
j away.  No  doubt  other  girls  could  do  better,  having  a knowledge  of 
sewing  and  washing.  Another  washed  her  one  waist  every  night,  in 
I order  to  appear  “cleanly  and  neat,”  and  avoid  “extravagance  and  dis- 
play.” 

I III.  The  Fining  System.  Another  method  used  by  certain  depart- 
ment stores  under  the  guise  of  “maintaining  discipline”  is  the  fining 
system.  For  every  mistake  an  employe  makes,  for  every  moment 
they  are  late  in  their  places,  there  is  a regulated  system  of  fines.  These 
natural,  and  often  unavoidable  losses  are  watched  and  recorded,  and 
e the  amounts  deducted  from  the  weekly  salary. 

IV.  Wages  Paid.  The  information  given  below  was  obtained  from 
. the  girls  in  the  different  stores  by  a woman  who  has  worked  among 
I them  for  fifteen  years  and  knew  they  were  telling  the  truth. 


206 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(X980)  pays  a uniform  scale  of  wages  amounting  to  $2.00  per 
week  to  all  clerks,  and  they  allow  in  addition  a percentage  on  goods 
which  are  sold  in  the  house  as  follows : 


On 

Hat 

selling  for  $2.48 

15  cents 

ii 

(( 

“ “ 4.98 

25 

i( 

Fur 

“ “ 4.98 

25 

t( 

Feathers 

“ “ .69 

5 

(( 

a 

(i 

“ “ .98 

5 

« 

Underwear 

garments 

“ “ 2.19 

10 

cc 

<< 

“ “ .24 

1 

<( 

(( 

Waists 

“ “ 1.98 

7 

(( 

(( 

Hose 

“ “ .19 

1 

i<  * 

a 

Gloves 

“ “ .24 

1 

(( 

Young  sales  inspectors  receive  a straight  salary  of 

$4.00  and  older 

ones  $5.00  per  week.  If  a mistake  is  made  by  any  of  the  clerks  in  mak- 
ing out  sales,  they  are  charged  10  cents,  an  error  slip  for  this  amount 
being  put  in  against  them. 

Another  store  (X981 ) . A girl  in  the  china  department  receives  $6.00 
per  week.  She  has  been  in  the  employ  of  this  firm  for  a long  time. 
This  house  pays  2 per  cent,  over  a certain  amount  of  sales  for  the 
week.  Young  inspectors  receive  $4.00  and  older  girls  $4.50  to  $5.00 
per  week. 

Another  store  (X982).  A salesgirl  without  much  experience  re- 
ceives $6.00  per  week.  Some  are  raised  to  $7.00  after  a year  or  two. 
They  offered  a young  lady  with  some  experience  $10.00  per  week  to 
work  in  the  curtain  department.  This  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  po- 
sitions to  hold  in  a department  store,  as  a salesgirl  must  know  how  to 
display  the  goods,  as  well  as  the  names  of  the  different  grades. 

One  of  the  girls  in  the  hosiery  department  receives  $6.00  per  week; 
one  in  the  hardware  department  $6.00.  Some  girls  in  these  different 
departments  receive  $7.00  per  week;  one  girl  in  the  grocery  depart- 
ment $6.00.  A woman  about  45  years  of  age  in  the  general  depart- 
ment works  from  11 : 00  A.  M.  to  4:  00  P.  M.  and  receives  $6.00  per 
week.  Another  clerk  works  from  10 : 00  A.  M.  to  6 : 00  P.  M.  and  also 
receives  $6.00  per  week.  A girl  has  to  be  a very  good  saleswoman  to 
get  more  than  $6.00  in  this  department  store. 

(X9S3).  This  department  store  pays  from  $4.00  to  $5.00  per  week 
for  new  help.  One  of  the  managers  told  a young  lady  who  had  had  a 
great  deal  of  experience  that  they  would  not  pay  more  than  $6.00  per 
week,  for  it  was  possible  to  get  a great  many  girls  for  $5.00.  “Most 
of  our  girls,”  he  declared,  “live  at  home  and  only  work  for  pin 
money.” 

(X984).  This  department  store  will  take  new  help  on  at  $6.00 
per  week,  if  they  have  had  any  experience.  They  pay  young  in- 
spectors $3.00,  $3.50  and  $4.50  per  week,  and  older  ones  $5  00  per 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


207 


week.  Some  of  the  older  women  are  paid  $7.50  in  such  departments 
as  suits,  hats  and  coats. 

One  of  the  girls  in  the  hardware  department  of  this  store  says  she 
went  to  dances  two  or  three  times  a week,  and  was  only  working  for 
the  holidays.  When  asked  what  she  expected  to  do  after  that,  she 
said,  “I  will  get  along  all  right.” 

(X985)  pays  $6.00  per  week  to  a great  many  of  their  salesladies. 
Inspectors  are  receiving  $3.00,  $3.50  and  $4.00  per  week.  One  young 
lady  was  very  bitter  in  her  remarks,  and  said,  “If  the  folks  who  were 
getting  up  the  tag  days  would  go  into  the  department  stores  and  help 
the  poorly  paid  girls  they  would  be  doing  something  worth  while.” 

A manager  of  a department  in  this  store  who  has  charge  of  10  girls 
said  he  knew  that  seven  of  them  went  to  houses  of  prostitution  on 
certain  nights  of  the  week  to  earn  extra  money. 

One  of  the  girls  in  the  waist  department  said  she  had  to  wash 
her  waist  at  night,  so  as  to  have  it  clean  for  the  next  day,  as  it  was 
the  only  waist  she  had. 

A girl  working  in  one  of  these  department  stores  was  found  by 
a detective  of  the  store  in  a saloon.  She  told  the  detective  she  had  a 
boy  to  take  care  of,  and  could  not  do  it  on  the  salary  she  received, 
which  was  $10.00  per  week.  She  was  discharged  by  the  store,  and 
afterwards  became  a professional  prostitute. 

Some  of  the  girls  in  the  suit,  cloak  and  millinery  departments  make 
as  high  as  $15.00  per  week,  but  few  of  them  are  assured  of  a perma- 
nent position. 

TEMPTATIONS  TO  WHICH  SALESGIRLS  IN  DEPARTMENT  STORES  ARE  SUB- 
JECTED. 

As  pointed  out  above,  the  girl  in  the  department  store  is  subjected 
to  certain  temptations  to  which  some  yield,  and  from  which  many  flee. 

These  temptations  appear  in  the  following  guises : 

I.  The  Procuress.  The  woman  who  appears  before  the  girl’s 
counter  or  in  the  waiting  room  and  compliments  her  on  her  good 
looks  and  bewails  with  her  the  injustice  which  prevents  her  from 
having  the  beautiful  clothes  to  which  she  is  entitled  and  the  good 
times,  because  of  her  youth  and  beauty.  Too  often  the  girl  listens 
and  accepts  the  “elegant”  lady’s  invitation  to  come  to  her  flat  for 
dinner  or  to  spend  Sunday. 

One  of  these  women  did  so  appear  before  a young  girl  and  did  in- 
vite her  to  her  “beautiful  flat,”  in  fact  she  was  continually  asking  other 


208 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


girls  to  do  the  same  thing.  But  her  flat  was  a disorderly  house  and 
her  own  daughter  was  one  of  the  inmates. 

Again,  one  day  a saleslady  went  to  the  rest  room  to  wash.  A woman 
dressed  in  very  rich  apparel  came  to  her  and  asked  her  to  meet  a 
young  man.  The  girl  was  afraid  and  told  the  house  detective  who 
went  to  the  room,  but  the  woman  had  disappeared. 

Another  woman  who  posed  as  a rich  lady,  traded  several  times 
with  a girl  at  the  drug  counter  in  one  of  the  department  stores.  One 
day  she  asked  the  girl  to  visit  her  home,  saying  that  her  husband  was 
away.  The  girl  accepted  this  hospitality,  and  afterward  went  to  live 
with  a man  who  conducted  a surgical  instrument  house. 

II.  The  “Cadet.”  This  boy  or  man  may  be  seen  any  evening  near 
the  employes’  exit  of  department  stores  with  the  avowed  purpose 
of  making  the  acquaintance  of  some  attractive  girl  and  bearing  her  off 
in  triumph  to  the  restaurant  and' the  theater. 

A few  weeks  ago  two  young  men  were  attempting  to  talk  with  a 
little  girl  who  was  an  inspector  at  one  of  the  stores.  They  were  put 
off  the  floor  at  two  different  times.  The  girl  had  about  made  up  her 
mind  to  go  with  them.  She  was  changed  to  another  floor. 

A young  saleswoman,  19  years  of  age,  in  one  of  the  department 
stores,  formed  the  habit  of  going  to  cafes  in  the  evening.  One  night 
she  met  a young  man,  and  he  persuaded  her  to  live  with  him.  After- 
ward she  became  acquainted  with  a rich  man  who  gave  her  a great 
many  presents.  Finally,  she  gave  up  her  position,  and  shared  the 
rich  man’s  gifts  with  her  first  lover.  She  continued  to  send  money 
home  to  her  mother,  who  lived  in  a small  town,  and  thought  her 
married.  The  girl  eventually  paid  off  a mortgage  on  her  mother’s 
home. 

During  the  past  summer  five  different  men  and  women  were  fre- 
quenting the  rest  rooms  at  one  of  the  department  stores.  One  was 
arrested,  but  was  finally  released.  One  of  these  persons  was  a colored 
woman  who  said  the  girls  she  was  talking  to  were  her  own  daughters. 
She  made  this  statement  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the  girls  were  white, 
and  one  had  red  hair.  \ATile  one  of  the  employes  of  the  store  went 
for  the  girls  to  identify  the  woman,  she  disappeared. 

III.  Married  Men.  ^Married  men  are  among  the  worst  offenders 
against  salesgirls,  and  use  all  sorts  of  methods  to  induce  them  to  ac- 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


209 


cept  invitations  to  dine,  or  go  to  the  theater.  These  men  come  to  the 
counters  while  their  wives  are  shopping,  and  thus  enter  into  conversa- 
tion with  the  girls.  They  are  very  bold  and  aggressive  in  their 
actions,  and  if  the  girls  resent  these  attentions,  some  of  these  men 
actually  report  them  to  the  floor  walkers,  claiming  they  neglected 
their  business.  In  some  cases  these  complaints  have  led  to  the  dis- 
charge of  the  girls  in  the  store. 

IV.  Men  Employers,  Salesmen  and  Women.  A certain  floor 
walker  had  been  in  the  habit  of  taking  girls  out.  He  was  continually 
harassing  the  girls  who  did  not  accept  his  invitation.  A house  de- 
tective finally  succeeded  in  having  him  discharged.  Some  salesgirls 
will  testify  their  downfall  was  caused  by  their  employers,  and  they 
actually  wore  diamonds  belonging  to  these  employers.  Two  girls  who 
are  employed  in  a department  store  (X985a)  came  to  work  one  day  in 
an  intoxicated  condition.  They  went  to  the  office  of  one  of  the 
partners,  sat  down  in  chairs,  and  put  their  feet  on  his  desk.  An  em- 
ploye of  the  store  tried  to  persuade  them  to  leave.  They  said  they 
would  not,  and  dared  him  to  put  them  out.  He  did  not  do  so. 

An  employe  of  (X985b)  store  said  she  actually  heard  a superin- 
tendent ask  a girl  who  had  complained  that  she  could  not  work  for 
$6.00  per  week,  if  this  was  the  only  way  she  had  of  earning  money. 
She  answered  that  it  was.  He  'then  told  her  that  the  house  could  not 
pay  her  any  more. 

A man  at  (X985c),  a large  department  store,  had  charge  of  in- 
spectors. One  day  he  went  so  far  as  to  take  one  of  the  girls  to  his 
home  when  his  wife  was  away.  The  girl  got  into  trouble  and  he 
left  the  city.  The  firm  cautioned  all  the  employes  not  to  speak  of 
the  incident. 

The  head  of  (X985d)  department  store  told  an  employe  he  did  not 
care  what  the  girls  did  outside  of  working  hours,  so  long  as  they  did 
not  bring  disgrace  on  the  name  of  the  store. 

The  superintendent  of  (X985e)  department  store  mistreated  his 
stenographer.  She  was  a very  good  looking  girl,  just  from  the  coun- 
try, and  boarded  at  the  Y.  W.  C.  A.  After  her  downfall,  she  left  the 
store,  and  was  finally  put  out  of  this  charitable  and  religious  institution. 
The  superintendent  proved  to  be  a cigarette  fiend,  and  finally  com- 
mitted suicide  in  Denver.  The  girl  lived  with  this  man  after  her  trou- 


210 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ble.  The  last  time  she  was  seen  by  a friend,  she  was  about  to  leave 
the  city,  saying  she  was  going  to  kill  herself  soon. 

A matron  at  one  of  the  large  department  stores  once  told  a salesgirl 
she  was  foolish  to  work  there,  as  she  could  make  money  easier  in 
the  “sporting  life.”  About  two  weeks  later  this  girl  resigned,  and  was 
found  by  a detective  from  this  store  in  a basement  saloon  on  Madison 
street. 

V.  Voluntary.  One  day  a house  detective  in  one  of  the  stores 
actually  heard  several  young  cash  girls  relating  their  experience  while 
out  with  men  during  the  evening.  They  made  such  remarks  as,  “He 
opened  a bottle  for  me,”  and  “We  had  a swell  time.” 

One  salesgirl,  17  years  of  age,  by  the  name  of  Sadie,  was  heard  to 
remark  in  one  of  the  stores  that  she  wasn’t  going  to  work  again,  as 
she  had  “touched  a guy  last  night  for  $50.00,  and  now  I will  have  a 
swell  hat.”  The  man  from  whom  she  had  stolen  the  money  came  to 
the  store  with  an  officer,  and  the  girl  was  compelled  to  return  the 
money.  This  man  would  not  prosecute. 

Several  young  salesgirls,  who  entered  a life  of  professional  prosti- 
tution, have  done  so  on  the  plea  that  they  could  live  on  “easy  street.” 
One  of  these  girls  died,  another  married  a doctor  on  the  North  Side. 

One  night  while  the  detective  was  in  the  (X986)  and  (X987)  cafes 
at  (X988)  Wabash  avenue,  he  saw  five  salesgirls  in  these  places  whom 
he  recognized  as  being  from  a certain  department  store  on  State 
street. 

An  employe  of  a great  many  years  in  the  department  stores  said 
that  she  knew  many  salesgirls  who  lived  with  men  who  were  not  their 
husbands. 

One  girl  who  worked  in  the  suit  department  of  one  of  the  stores 
left  to  enter  a life  of  prostitution.  At  the  present  time  she  is  what 
is  known  as  a “kept  woman.” 

Mrs.  (X989),  who  conducts  an  immoral  flat  at  (X990)  24th  street, 
said  that  the  whole  success  of  a flat  like  hers  depends  upon  getting 
young  fresh  girls.  She  spoke  of  two  who  came  during  certain  even- 
ings, and  who  worked  in  (X990a)  department  store. 

VI.  Typical  Cases.  September  nth.  Bebe  was  soliciting  on  North 
Clark  street.  She  works  at  one  of  the  large  department  stores. 

On  September  loth.  Rosie  was  seen  in  a dance  hall  at  (X991) 
North  Clark  street.  She  works  in  the  basement  of  one  of  the  large 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


211 


department  stores,  and  receives  $6.00  per  week.  Out  of  this  she  pays 
$3.00  for  her  meals  and  $2.00  room  rent,  and  60  cents  per  week  car- 
fare. She  “hustles”  three  nights  every  week,  as  a business  proposi- 
tion. She  said  that  during  these  nights  she  could  be  found  in  the  rear 
room  of  (X992)  saloon  at  (X993)  North  Clark  street.  She  is  about 
20  years  of  age. 

September  2ist.  Mag  was  seen  at  the  dance  hall  on  North  Clark 
street.  She  works  in  one  of  the  large  department  stores  at  a salary 
of  $5.00  per  week.  She  has  a furnished  room  on  North  Clark  street. 
At  one  time  she  had  a baby  which  died.  She  was  “hustling”  certain 
nights  in  the  week,  and  claims  she  does  it  to  help  support  herself. 

September  2/i.th.  There  were  about  200  girls  in  a dance  hall  at 
(X994)  avenue.  One  of  these,  Lillie,  about  19  years  of  age,  works  in 
a department  store  and  receives  a salary  of  $5.00  per  week.  She  will 
take  presents  from  her  men  friends,  but  refuses  the  actual  money. 
One  of  these  friends  gave  her  a bracelet  the  week  previous.  He  is  a 
clerk  in  the  same  store. 

Violet,  another  girl  at  this  dance  is  about  18  years  of  age,  and 
works  in  a department  store  at  $6.00  per  week.  She  has  two  steady 
friends,  who  take  her  out  each  week,  and  give  her  $2.00  a week.  This 
brings  her  salary  to  $10.00  per  week.  They  take  her  to  a room 
downtown,  but  she  would  not  give  the  name  of  the  place.  She  lives 
at  home  with  her  parents,  and  when  she  goes  out  tells  them  she  is  going 
to  a show  with  a girl  friend. 

Bell,  another  one  of  the  girls  at  this  dance,  works  in  a millinery 
store  and  receives  $4.00  per  week.  One  day  when  she  was  nearly 
broke  a fellow  proposed  to  take  her  out,  and  she  agreed  to  the  propo- 
sition. Bell  is  about  20  years  of  age  and  very  good  looking. 

Bessie  solicits  every  night  in  (X995),  a notorious  cafe  at  (X996) 
State  street.  Until  recently  she  worked  in  a department  store  at  $6.00 
per  week,  but  concluded  this  was  not  enough,  and  as  she  had  no 
other  way  of  increasing  her  salary,  started  to  solicit  in  this  place. 
She  goes  home  in  the  morning  at  either  2 : 00  or  2 : 30  A.  M.  and  often 
takes  with  her  from  $5.00  to  $30.00;  she  charges  $5.00. 

October  8th.  Dora  was  attending  a dance  at  the  (X997).  At  pres- 
ent she  works  in  one  of  the  large  department  stores  and  receives 
$11.00  per  week.  Recently  a friend  gave  her  a pair  of  gloves,  and  has 
promised  her  an  old  gold  bracelet.  He  is  an  insurance  agent.  She 
makes  dates  with  anyone  who  asks  her.  Her  sister,  Tantine,  works  in 
another  department  store  as  a clerk  and  receives  $7.00  per  week. 

On  this  same  date  there  was  another  dance  held  in  the  (X998),  and 
was  given  by  the  (X999)  Union.  Violet  was  at  this  dance.  She  is  in 
the  habit  of  “hustling”  every  night  in  one  of  the  saloons  in  the  22nd 
street  district.  She  works  in  one  of  the  department  stores  downtown. 
At  present  she  is  keeping  a man  and  they  live  together  in  a furnished 
room  on  (XIOOO)  avenue. 

There  was  another  girl  of  the  same  character,  who  also  works  in 
the  same  department  store  with  Violet. 


212 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


October  ^rd.  A dance  was  held  at  (XlOOl)  35th  street  and  several 
of  the  girls  who  were  there  were  professional  prostitutes;  two  es- 
pecially have  a flat  at  the  corner  of  (X1002)  street  and  (X1003)  ave- 
nue and  one  on  (X1004)  avenue,  and  two  others  were  from  Mrs. 
(X1005)  place  at  (X1006)  near  (X1007)  avenue  on  the  north  side 
of  the  street.  There  were  four  girls  at  this  dance  from  two  of  the 
department  stores  downtown.  One  of  these  girls  had  a pair  of  garters 
and  a comb  which  (X1008)  gave  her.  She  stated  that  (X1009)  goes 
with  her  a few  nights  each  week,  and  takes  her  to  the  (XIOIO)  hotel, 
(XlOll)  street  and  (X1012)  avenue.  She  was  willing  to  make  a sim- 
ilar date  for  the  money  there  was  in  it. 

Three  other  girls,  who  also  work  in  a department  store,  were  willing 
to  make  dates  of  a similar  nature.  One  said  she  had  three  steady 
friends,  one  of  whom  has  a private  room  which  he  keeps  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  girls.  This  room  is  on  (X1013)  avenue,  but  she  would 
not  give  the  number. 

One  of  the  most  notorious  dance  halls  in  Chicago  is  at  (X1014) 
North  Clark  street.  On  Saturday  nights  many  girls  who  come  to 
this  dance  are  semi-professional  or  professional  prostitutes.  On  Sat- 
urday and  Sunday  nights  the  attendance  is  about  300,  and  many  of 
these  girls  are  waitresses,  house  maids  and  clerks  in  department  stores. 
The  ones  who  do  not  charge  for  their  services  are  all  called  “charity.” 
Among  the  cadets  who  were  present  at  one  of  these  dances  was 
(X1015),  who  lives  in  one  of  the  hotels  near  the  restricted  district  with 
his  girl  Jessie.  The  girl  is  a prostitute  at  a house  at  (X1016)  avenue. 

Among  the  prostitutes  who  solicit  in  (X1017)  dance  hall  is  one 
named  Mignon  (X1018),  alias  Violet.  She  is  about  20  years  old.  She 
came  to  Chicago  two  years  ago  from  (X1019),  Wisconsin,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  obtaining  a position  in  one  of  the  large  department  stores. 
One  of  the  managers  of  this  store  insisted  on  taking  her  out,  and  she 
Anally  accepted  his  invitation.  She  claims  she  did  it  in  order  to  hold 
her  job.  Finally  Violet  got  into  trouble,  and  she  actually  had  a mis- 
carriage in  the  store. 

An  inmate  of  a house  of  prostitution  at  (X1025)  Dearborn  street 
by  the  name  of  Paulette  said  that  she  was  22  years  of  age,  but  she 
looks  much  younger.  She  formerly  lived  in  (Xi026),  Massachusetts, 
where  she  married  at  17.  After  living  with  her  husband  two  years, 
they  had  a misunderstanding  and  parted.  She  first  came  to  Chi- 
cago to  work  in  one  of  the  department  stores  downtown  in  the  shirt 
waist  department,  and  received  $7.00  per  week.  This  sum  was  after- 
ward reduced  to  $6.00.  “I  could  not  live  on  that,”  she  said,  “so  I 
took  up  the  sporting  life,  because  it  appealed  to  me.  It  was  impossible 
to  make  a living  where  I was.  And  even  while  I was  in  the  store 
I made  money  on  the  side.  I was  in  the  habit  of  taking  men  to  hotels, 
one,  two  or  three  times  a week,  when  I wasn’t  too  tired.  After  I had 
been  working  two  months,  I left  the  position  and  entered  the  house.” 

Paulette,  in  speaking  further  of  her  experience  in  department  stores, 
says : “One  can’t  live  downtown ; that  is  no  district  for  a girl  to 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


213 


live  in;  she  might  as  well  be  here.  If  a girl  in  a store  wears  soiled 
clothing,  they  will  tell  her  about  it.  You  have  to  work  in  a depart- 
ment store  for  years  and  years  and  years  before  you  get  anything. 
While  in  the  store,”  she  continued,  “I  heard  of  a case  of  a good  girl 
getting  $6.00  a week.  She  asked  for  more  money.  She  said  she 
couldn’t  live  on  that.  The  man  said,  ‘Can’t  you  get  somebody  to 
keep  you  ?’  ” 

At  the  present  time  Paulette  earns  $17.00  to  $23.00  above  her  ex- 
penses each  week. 

AMUSEMENT  PARKS. 

Social  workers  who  have  paid  particular  attention  to  conditions  in 
amusement  parks  in  the  city  declare  that  incidents  have  come  to  their 
notice  showing  a laxity  of  supervision,  and  the  moral  dangers  sur- 
rounding young  girls  who  frequent  these  places  for  amusement.^ 

During  the  time  given  to  this  part  of  the  work  three  amusement 
parks  were  investigated  by  two  investigators  whose  reports  corroborate 
each  other.  These  parks  were  (X1026a),  (X1026b)  and  (X1026c). 

According  to  common  report  the  conditions  in  these  parks,  es- 
pecially (X1026a),  had  been  unfavorable  earlier  in  the  summer.  In 
September,  the  time  of  the  investigation,  these  conditions  had  im- 
proved. In  general  It  was  found  that  there  were  many  young  girls 
who  were  unaccompanied,  flirting  with  young  boys  and  men  and  sug- 
gesting participation  in  different  forms  of  amusement. 

Usually  there  are  saloons  near  the  entrances  of  these  parks,  and 
young  girls  were  seen  in  the  rear  rooms  of  these  places.  Couples 
also  come  into  these  saloons  from  the  park. 

September  ijth.  Investigator  met  Rose  (X1027),  a girl  about  21 
years  old,  from  (X1028),  Illinois.  She  stood  near  the  Scenic  Railway, 
and  remarked  that  it  was  tiresome  not  to  have  some  one  to  take  her 
around,  and  she  had  never  been  on  a Scenic  Railway.  She  works  in 
a butter  factory  and  has  a private  room  and  a few  steady  friends 
who  come  to  see  her.  She  receives  $1.00  per  day  in  the  butter  factory 
and  pays  $2.00  for  her  room  and  has  to  eat  two  meals  per  day  in  a 
restaurant.  She  lives  at  (X1028a)  avenue  and  would  go  out  for  $2.00. 

Ella  (X1029)  and  Rosie  (X1030)  said  they  lived  on  (X1031)  ave- 
nue, telephone  (X1032).  She  boards  with  her  mother.  Gave  their 
ages  as  24  and  25.,  They  both  work  for  (X1033),  each  receives 
$7.00  per  week.  They  go  out  once  in  a while  to  earn  a little  spending 
money.'  Would  have  to  go  to  (X1034)  avenue  for  a room. 

^For  the  City  Ordinances,  see  Appendix  XX. 


214 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Investigator  danced  with  two  girls  in  the  park  dance  hall.  One 
was  16,  the  other  17.  Later  he  saw  these  girls  drinking  beer  with 
two  men  in  the  Casino.  He  also  danced  with  two  professional  prosti- 
tutes, who  were  in  company  with  fellows.  One  invited  him  to  join 
the  crowd  and  go  downtown  to  a place  on  North  Clark  street  where 
a room  could  be  secured  for  the  night.  While  in  Casino  investigator 
saw  another  professional  prostitute  whom  he  had  seen  in  the  rear  of 
(X1035)  saloon  on  North  Clark  street.  The  man  who  was  with  her 
called  her  Josie.  She  was  intoxicated. 

ANOTHER  PARK. 

September  pth.  Three  hours  at  this  amusement  place.  Counted 
17  women  soliciting  within  the  place,  nine  of  these  were  recognized  by 
investigator,  who  had  seen  them  soliciting  in  the  downtown  (Loop) 
district.  Five  of  these  women  went  downtown  with  men  after  they 
had  been  drinking  beer  in  the  cafe. 

September  iith.  While  in  this  park  on  this  date,  investigator  saw 
three  girls  whom  he  knew  to  be  street  walkers  on  downtown  streets 
take  men  in  that  direction. 

September  14th.  Investigator  met  girl  in  front  of  a weighing  ma- 
chine. She  said  she  lived  with  her  husband  at  (X1036)  avenue  and  in- 
vited investigator  to  go  to  her  home  while  her  husband  was  away,  if  he 
had  any  money. 

Violet  in  front  of  the  “mixer,”  an  amusement  device.  Solicited 
him  to  go  to  (X1037)  avenue  to  a room.  She  would  not  give  the 
address. 

Tantine  and  Pauline.  Two  professional  prostitutes,  from  (X1037) 
avenue.  They  invited  investigator  to  this  house,  offering  vulgar  and 
unnatural  inducements. 

While  investigator  was  in  dance  hall,  conducted  with  this  amusement 
place,  he  counted  45  girls,  among  them  the  two  professional  prosti- 
tutes mentioned  above.  The  girls  in  general  appeared  to  be  decent. 

CONDITIONS  IN  VICINITY  OF  THIS  PARK. 

One  of  the  dangers  connected  with  the  amusement  parks  and  resorts 
of  this  nature  is  the  presence  of  saloons  in  front  of  entrances  and  on 
the  side  streets  in  the  vicinity.  The  following  are  saloons  so  situated 
in  the  neighborhood  of  this  park. 

(X1038).  Not  on  police  list.  Met  Rosie  in  this  saloon.  Waiter 
said  he  could  “fix  it”  so  they  could  get  a room  upstairs  but  it  would 
be  useless  without  his  “say  so.” 

(X1039).  Not  on  police  list.  Met  Josie  in  this  saloon.  She  said 
Harry,  the  bartender,  could  “fix  it  up”  so  they  could  get  a room,  her 
price  was  $2.00. 

(X1040).  Not  on  police  list.  Bebe  said  a colored  man  at  side  door 
would  see  that  she  got  a room,  but  she  would  not  say  where  the  room 
was  located. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


21b 


Investigator  met  a girl  on  63rd  street  who  invited  him  to  go 
to  a private  flat.  Later  this  girl  took  another  fellow  to  (X1041)  ave- 
nue which  is  a flat  building. 

ANOTHER  PARK. 

Sept.  9th.  Three  hours  at  this  place.  Investigator  counted  1 1 women 
who  were  professional  prostitutes.  In  fact  he  recognized  five  who 
solicit  on  Wabash  avenue  between  Peck  court  and  Van  Buren  street 
in  the  downtown  district.  These  girls  frequent  a hotel  on  (X  1040a), 
near  (X  1040b).  _ 

In  dance  hall  investigator  met  two  girls,  one  of  whom  frequents 
(X1042)  saloon  at  (X1043)  avenue,  a “tough”  place.  Bella  told  him 
that  sporting  women  were  not  allowed  in  the  dance  hall.  If  they  find 
such  a girl  they  make  her  leave  the  floor.  She  and  her  sister  were 
the  only  ones  that  had  not  been  caught. 

LAKE  STEAMERS. 

There  are  two  classes  of  boats  on  the  lake,  those  which  carry  the 
holiday  crowds  and  those  which  cater  to  the  regular  vacation  traffic. 

The  excursion  boats,  as  a rule,  carry  an  element  which  is  more  or 
less  disorderly.  The  other  boats  are  less  frequented  by  this  element.^ 

There  are  several  classes  of  these  disorderly  groups  on  the  holiday 
boats;  first,  girls  who  are  evidently  professional  or  semi-professional 
prostitutes,  together  with  young  men  whom  they  find  it  easy  to  at- 
tract; second,  the  class  of  vile  young  men  who  make  these  excursion 
trips  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  out  girl  recruits;  and  third,  a group 
which  is  very  important,  especially  when  the  preventive  end  of  the 
work  is  considered  as  conducted  by  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association. 
The  following  is  a typical  story  which  illustrates  this  last  group; 

A young  couple  who  are  sweethearts  start  on  one  of  these  excur- 
sions. The  trip  is  longer  than  is  expected,  or  the  girl  is  taken  sick.  A 
state  room  is  secured  and  this  one  act  may  change  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  future  relationship  of  these  two  and  may  entirely  spoil  what 
might  have  developed  into  a happy  married  life. 

Of  the  excursion  steamers  the  (X1044)  was  the  worst  and  the 
(X1045)  the  least  offensive.  The  (X1044),  in  addition  to  being  a 
very  large  boat — capacity  approximately  5,000  people — makes  a rather 
long  trip.  This  boat  also  has  a large  number  of  easily  acquired  state 
rooms. 


^For  text  of  law,  see  Appendix  IV. 


216 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Practically  all  of  the  boats  were  equipped  with  bars  and  the  quantity 
of  liquor  sold  depended  entirely  on  the  character  of  the  crowd  aboard. 
The  bar  in  the  (X1047)  was  extremely  popular  and  liquor  was  openly 
sold  to  both  young  men  and  young  women  who  were  evidently  minors. 

Gambling  machines  were  openly  used  on  nearly  all  of  the  boats 
in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  but  were  taken  off  for  some  reason  in 
August.  A lottery  game  for  selling  candy  was  another  means  of 
gambling,  but  was  not  nearly  so  popular  with  the  boys  and  young  men 
as  the  nickel  gambling  wheel. 

TYPICAL  INSTANCES. 

The  following  are  typical  instances  of  conditions  found  on  these 
boats : 

Investigator  left  South  Haven  on  August  21st  at  5:30  P.  M.  for 
Chicago  on  the  (X1044).  Almost  every  state  room  on  the  boat  was  in 
use.  The  decks  were  crowded,  and  many  of  the  young  men  were 
getting  acquainted  with  the  girls.  Observation  of  the  state  rooms 
was  as  follows : 

In  No.  66  were  four  men.  Two  girls  visited  the  room  during  the 
trip.  In  61  there  was  one  girl.  She  was  visited  by  four  men  at 
diferent  times.  No.  69  was  occupied  by  two  girls  and  two  young  men. 
In  No.  21  three  men  and  three  girls  were  in  the  lower  berth. 

In  the  bar  room  about  twenty  young  girls  were  drinking  beer,  five 
of  them  not  over  twelve  years  of  age.  One  child,  eight  years  old,  was 
drinking  beer  with  older  people. 

September  3rd,  1910,  investigator  left  Chicago  on  the  steamship 
(X1049)  for  South  Haven,  Michigan.  In  the  bar  room  there  were 
about  twenty  young  girls  and  boys  sitting  at  tables  drinking  beer. 

In  state  room  No.  28,  two  boys  and  two  girls  were  lying  in  the 
berths  and  all  under  the  influence  of  liquor.  In  room  No.  56  were 
found  two  men  and  two  girls ; one  of  the  girls  appeared  to  be  very 
drunk.  Three  boys  visited  state  room  No.  51  during  the  trip.  A young 
woman  was  in  this  room.  In  state  room  No.  64  a man  about  sixty-five 
years  old  was  sitting  at  the  door  reading.  Later  he  was  seen  in  the 
crowd  talking  very  earnestly  to  a young  woman.  After  a Avhile  they 
went  into  state  room  No.  64  and  locked  the  door,  and  did  not  appear 
again  until  the  boat  arrived  in  South  Haven. 

On  Sepember  5th,  1910,  this  boat  had  a very  large  crowd  on  its 
return  trip  to  Chicago.  On  the  upper  deck  a man  was  in  earnest  con- 
versation with  a girl.  The  girl  was  very  good  looking  and  well  dressed. 
The  man  had  been  talking  some  time  when  he  was  heard  to  say.  “I 
will  get  a state  room.”  She  said,  “All  right,  I will  see.”  He  went 
downstairs  and  when  he  returned  she  went  with  him  to  state  room 
No.  19. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


217 


One  girl  and  three  different  men  entered  stateroom  No.  53. 

Saturday,  July  2nd,  1910,  investigator  left  Chicago  for  South 
Haven  at  2:00  P.  M.  on  the  steamer  (X1050).  The  passengers  con- 
sisted principally  of  boys  and  girls  between  the  ages  of  twelve  to  twen- 
ty-one. The  boat  was  loaded  to  its  full  capacity. 

Shortly  after  the  boat  left  Chicago  groups  of  men  began  to  crowd 
the  deck,  and  one  group  of  six  young  men,  all  under  age,  stood  in  a 
circle  drinking  whiskey.  Another  party  of  eight  had  suit  cases  filled 
with  beer.  They  drank  the  beer  and  threw  the  empty  bottles  over- 
board saturating  the  men  and  women  in  their  vicinity  with  the  froth 
from  the  bottles.  Sitting  on  the  upper  deck  were  three  women  talking. 
Soon  a young  man  came  up  and  said,  “The  bunch  are  all  down  in  the 
state  room  stewed  and  Arvella  is  the  only  girl  in  the  crowd.”  The 
number  of  this  state  room  was  71. 

The  bar  room  was  filled  with  boys  and  girls.  Two  girls  in  par- 
ticular could  not  have  been  over  sixteen  years  old ; were  singing  in 
drunken  discord,  lying  in  the  arms  of  two  men.  Sitting  at  the  next 
table  was  a young  woman  with  her  skirts  up  to  her  knees  talking  to  the 
young  men  who  were  sitting  next  to  her.  She  pounded  the  table  with 
beer  bottles  to  emphasize  her  remarks,  and  to  attract  the  attention  of 
other  men  in  the  bar  room.  In  fact  the  whole  boat  seemed  filled  with 
intoxicated  boys  and  girls. 

Some  of  the  state  rooms  were  occupied  by  boys  and  others  by  girls. 
In  state  room  No.  50  there  were  two  boys  in  bathing  suits,  and  two 
girls  in  kimonos,  lying  in  each  other’s  arms ; anyone  passing  could  have 
seen  them  as  the  door  was  open  most  of  the  time.  Room  No.  64  was 
occupied  by  two  boys  and  two  girls ; all  appeared  under  the  age  of 
twenty.  They  were  lying  in  each  other’s  arms,  and  at  least  three  dozen 
empty  beer  bottles  were  on  the  floor  and  wash  stand. 

Two  girls  and  two  boys  were  standing  in  front  of  state  room  No..  20. 
One  of  the  girls  refused  to  enter,  saying,  “I  ain’t  no  saint,  but  I can’t 
do  anything  like  that.”  Later  her  companion  succeeded  in  persuading 
her  to  enter  the  room  and  they  did  not  come  out  during  the  entire 
trip. 

For  a while  investigator  stood  in  front  of  state  room  No.  71  and 
watched  a young  girl  who  was  in  the  room  with  four  young  boys. 
One  of  the  boys  was  very  much  intoxicated  and  every  time  his  com- 
panions tried  to  make  him  stand  on  his  feet  he  would  throw  himself 
back  in  the  berth.  This  young  boy  could  not  have  been  over  eighteen 
years  old. 

Returning  from  South  Haven  July  3rd  at  6:00  P.  M.  the  condi- 
tions were  very  bad.  Just  before  the  boat  left  the  dock  four  couples 
came  up  the  companion  way,  all  under  the  influence  of  liquor. 

State  room  No.  74  was  occupied  by  two  girls  and  two  young  men; 
one  of  the  girls  was  standing  in  front  of  the  dressing  table  with  nothing 
on  except  a dress  skirt  while  the  other  called  to  a boy  who  happened 
to  pass. 


218 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


EMPLOYMENT  AGENCIES. 

One  of  the  most  serious  problems  in  any  large  city  is  the  practice 
of  certain  employment  agencies  in  sending  young  girls  and  women  to 
houses  of  prostitution,  assignation  fiats  and  hotels  as  servants.  Once 
in  these  places,  surrounded  by  indications  of  ease  and  excitement 
these  girls  are  not  always  able  to  withstand  the  temptation  and  soon 
become  regular  inmates.  This  is  true  especially  if  they  are  of  good 
figure  and  attractive  face. 

The  presence  of  such  girls  in  a house,  gives  the  madame  an  excellent 
opportunity  to  persuade  them  to  leave  their  life  of  drudgery,  pointing 
out  to  them  the  good  clothes  and  easy  work  of  the  other  inmates. 
Thus  a clear  field  for  supplying  their  house  with  fresh  girls  is  given 
these  keepers. 

While  the  improvement  in  regard  to  the  conduct  of  employment 
agencies  in  Chicago  has  been  marked,  yet  some  of  the  agents  are  willing 
to  send  females  as  servants  to  houses  of  a questionable  character. 

These  agents  appear  to  understand  the  law  but  they  have  peculiar 
notions  as  to  its  interpretation. 

For  instance,  some  one  will  send  a girl  to  such  a place  if  the  applicant 
is  30  years  old  or  over.  Others  will  refuse  to  send  a girl,  and  then  in 
the  same  breath  ask  if  a colored  girl  will  do.^ 

EXISTING  CONDITIONS. 

The  time  has  been  too  limited  to  go  into  a thorough  investigation  of 
employment  agencies. 

The  investigators,  one  elderly  woman  with  a young  lady  assistant, 
were  able  to  visit  28  employment  agents  who  advertise  in  a public 
way.  Of  this  number,  thirteen  agreed  to  send  servants  to  a supposed 
immoral  place.  In  each  case  the  agent  was  given  to  understand  that 
this  was  the  character  of  the  place. 

The  following  gives  in  detail  the  thirteen  employment  agents  in 
different  sections  of  the  city  who  agreed  to  the  proposition.  In  no 
case  would  they  accept  a fee,  saying  that  would  be  collected  when  the 
girl  actually  began  work. 

^For  text  of  law,  see  Appendix  XXV. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


219 


NORTH  AND  NORTHWEST  SIDES. 

November  4,  Mrs.  (X1051),  (X1052),  (X1052a)  avenue.  Thought 
she  would  have  one  by  Monday  who  would  go  to  a sporting  house 
to  work.  “ Some  of  them  liked  to.” 

October  31,  (X1053),  (X10S4)  (X1054a)  avenue.  This  woman 
advertised  in  the  September  14,  1910,  issue  of  a Chicago  paper  pub- 
lished in  a foreign  language.  Mrs.  (X1054)  agreed  to  send  a girl  the 
next  day.  The  fee  was  $1.00  and  was  to  be  paid  when  the  girl  came 
to  the  supposed  sporting  house. 

November  1,  Mrs.  (X1056),  (X1057),  (X1057a)  avenue.  Repre- 
sentative of  agent  said  she  would  not  send  a girl  as  the  agency  was 
bonded,  but  would  send  a woman  the  next  morning. 

November  1.  Reliable  (X1058)  agency,  (X1059)  (X1059a)  street. 
Mrs.  (X1059),  proprietor.  Saw  Mrs.  (X1059),  she  promised  to  send 
a second  girl  at  $6.00  per  week  the  next  day.  Said  she  knew  what  a 
sporting  house  was. 

SOUTH  SIDE. 

November  2,  (X1062)  Bureau,  (X1063)  (Xlb63a)  avenue.  Was 
willing  to  send  a colored  servant  to  a sporting  house.  The  law  would 
not  allow  her  to  send  white  help. 

November  2,  (X1064),  (X1065)  (X1065a)  avenue.  Agent  said 
it  was  against  the  law  to  send  a girl  to  a sporting  house.  She  had  a 
colored  girl  she  could  send.  She  did  not  like  to  give  her  business  card 
to  investigator,  but  finally  did,  trusting  to  her  not  to  say  anything  about 
it.  “Of  course,”  she  explained,  “if  she  told  the  girl  where  she  was 
going,  it  would  be  all  right.” 

November  2.  Mrs.  (X1066),  (X1067)  (X1067a)  street.  A man  in 
the  office  said  they  could  not  send  girls  to  sporting  houses  as  it  was 
against  the  law.  Then  the  woman,  Mrs.  (X1068),  came  in  and  told 
him  she  could  send  a woman  over  30.  This  woman  was  introduced,  she 
looked  like  a dope  fiend.  She  said  she  had  been  in  a house  for  three 
years. 

November  2.  (X1069),  (X1070)  (X1070a)  street.  The  woman, 

Mrs.  (X1071)  said  she  could  only  furnish  colored  help  as  the  law 
did  not  allow  emplo}TOent  agents  to  send  a girl  to  a sporting 
house. 

SOUTHWEST  SIDE. 

October  31.  (X1072),  (X1073)  (X1073a)  avenue.  Agent  said  he 
could  not  send  a young  girl  to  a sporting  house,  but  would  send  a 
woman  30  years  old,  the  next  day. 

November  2.  (X1074)  office,  (X1075)  (X1075a)  street.  Agent 

said  the  law  would  not  allow  him  to  send  a girl  to  a sporting  house. 
Then  asked  if  a married  woman  would  do.  Asked  again  if  he  could 
depend  on  it  that  the  woman  would  not  be  wanted  for  any  other  pur- 
pose; if  so  he  might  have  one  to  send  later. 


220 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


November  4.  Mrs.  (X1076),  (X1077)  (X1077a)  avenue.  Agent 
said  she  might  have  a chambermaid  on  Saturday  or  Monday  who  would 
like  to  work  in  a sporting  house.  “You  do  not  want  her  for  anything 
else?”  she  asked. 


WEST  SIDE. 

Novembers,  (X1078),  (X1079)  (X1079a)  avenue.  Mrs.  (X1080) 
proprietor  and  manager.  The  woman  said  she  thought  they  would 
have  one  to  send,  but  preferred  to  have  investigators  see  her  son.  Re- 
turned later  but  office  was  closed. 

Novembers.  (X1081),  (X1081)  fX1081a)  street.  Mrs.  (X1082). 
Invited  investigators  to  call  Monday  A.  M.  as  she  expected  a girl  in 
who  wanted  to  work  in  a quiet  sporting  house  to  see  how  it  was  run. 

ENFORCEMENT  OF  THE  LAW.^ 

The  chief  inspector  of  private  employment  agencies,  says  that  in 
1906  a vigorous  effort  was  made  to  warn  resort  keepers  not  to  secure 
servants  through  the  aid  of  employment  agents.  He  feels  that  as  a 
result  this  practice  has  been  abandoned.  The  Commission’s  limited  in- 
vestigation as  outlined  in  these  typical  cases  shows  plainly  that  the 
practice  has  not  been  abandoned. 

During  the  year  1908  there  were  two  prosecutions  of  an  agent  for 
sending  a woman  as  a servant  to  a house  of  questionable  character ; 
one  was  the  owner,  the  other  the  employe  of  the  same  agency. 

In  1909  up  to  September  1,  one  agent  was  prosecuted  for  the  same 
offense  and  his  license  revoked.  This  man  was  a vaudeville  agent 
and  had  booked  some  girls  to  a questionable  place  of  amusement. 

During  the  year  ending  August  31,  1910,  eight  agents  were  prose- 
cuted, but  none  for  sending  women  as  servants  to  immoral  places. 

From  August  31st  to  November  10th,  1910,  the  date  when  above 
information  was  secured,  the  chief  inspector  has  instituted  proceedings 
against  one  agent  for  violation  of  Section  6 of  the  law.  This  case  was 
brought  before  the  Commissioners  of  Labor  who  instructed  the  As- 
sistant State’s  Attorney  to  prosecute  the  case,  which  is  still  pending. 
One  charge  was  brought  before  the  IMunicipal  Court  which  imposed 
no  sentence,  the  age  of  the  defendant  having  some  weight,  as  she  was 
quite  an  old  lady  and  the  women  who  had  been  sent  to  the  place  were 
beyond  middle  life,  and  employed  but  a short  period  each  as  servants. 


^Appendix  XVIII. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


221 


It  is  the  custom  of  inspectors  employed  by  the  department  to  warn 
all  agents  and  tell  them  to  be  very  careful  regarding  the  places  where 
females  are  sent,  as  no  excuse  for  carelessness  would  be  sufficient 
to  prevent  prosecutions  and  revocations  of  their  licenses. 

A female  inspector  also  speaks  to  the  women  conducting  such 
agencies,  advising  them  not  to  succumb  to  temptations  and  asking  them 
to  report  if  keepers  of  resorts  approach  them  on  the  subject. 

The  department  finds  that  there  is  a class  of  women  who  are  anxious 
to  work  as  servants  in  these  immoral  places  because  the  wages  are 
higher,  the  hours  of  service  fewer,  and  they  have  opportunities  of  re- 
ceiving cast  off  clothing  that  they  do  not  find  elsewhere.  These  serv- 
ants are  willing  to  pay  the  agent  higher  fees  than  for  legitimate 
places.  This  is  a great  temptation  to  agents. 


ADVERTISEMENTS  ANNOUNCING  THE  TREATMENT  AND  CURE  OF  VENEREAL 

DISEASES. 

In  spite  of  the  penalties  attached,  the  practice  of  advertising  cures 
and  treatments  of  venereal  diseases,  both  in  newspapers  and  in  toilets 
of  certain  saloons  is  open  and  flagrant. 

It  is  high  time  that  determined  efforts  were  made  to  eliminate  from 
the  daily  press  these  obnoxious  and  misleading  advertisements.  As  an 
eminent  authority  says  in  a recent  article : “The  statements  of  quacks 
you  read  in  the  papers  are  all  lies.”  In  the  footnote  the  writer  refers 
to  a young  man  who  had  been  arrested  for  stealing  money.  His  excuse 
was  that  he  had  been  told  that  he  was  “losing  his  manhood”  that  the 
“doctor”  wanted  $25.00  to  cure  him. 

Sometimes  these  quacks  offer  to  return  the  patient’s  money  if  he 
is  not  cured.  The  guarantee  they  give  is  legal  and  binding  but  it  is 
a trap  for  the  ignorant  and  helpless.  The  patient  must  give  reasonable 
proof  that  he  was  a victim  of  injurious  habits  before  the  treatment, 
and  that  the  treatment  has  not  effected  a cure. 

When  the  money  is  demanded  back,  a blank  is  sent  to  be  filled  out 
and  returned.  When  this  is  done  the  money  is  to  be  refunded. 

The  blank  the  patient  is  asked  to  fill  out  is  such  that  he  will  not 
return  it.  It  requires  him  to  get  signatures  of  his  minister,  one 
of  the  principal  business  men  in  his  community,  his  father  or  next 
of  kin,  certifying  that  he  had  the  habit  before  taking  treatment  and 


222 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


that  he  still  has  it.  All  of  this  must  be  sworn  before  a notary  and 
witnesses.^ 

Many  young  girls  working  in  factories  and  stores  have  contracted 
venereal  diseases  through  clandestine  prostitution.  They  see  the  ad- 
vertisements of  these  quacks  in  the  newspapers.  The  girl  calls  upon 
the  “doctor,”  who  offers  to  cure  her  secretly  for  $50.00  or  $75.00.  She 
is  in  despair,  for  these  sums  are  far  beyond  her  means.  Cases  have 
actually  come  to  light  where  such  victims  have  deliberately  entered 
upon  a life  of  professional  prostitution  to  earn  the  money,  and  the  doc- 
tors knew  it. 

Many  young  men,  ignorant  and  afraid,  have  awakened  to  the  horri- 
ble reality  that  they  have  contracted  a disease.  They  eagerly  scan  the 
pages  of  the  papers  for  advertisements  and  read  of  their  symptoms 
and  the  awful  consequences.  They  hurry  to  the  “quack  doctor”  and 
a large  sum  is  demanded  at  once  with  a specific  sum  of  one  dollar 
or  two  dollars  for  daily  treatments  and  additional  sums  for  drugs 
to  be  purchased  from  friendly  druggists.  So  for  months  they  go 
day  after  day  and  the  bill  grows  larger  and  larger.  They  are  now  in 
the  power  of  these  exploiters,  and  so  the  days  are  spent  in  worry  and 
scheming  to  raise  the  money  and  escape  detection.  Sometimes  these 
“quacks”  use  certain  medicines  which  force  a temporary  relief,  and 
the  patient  feels  that  he  is  really  cured.  A few  months  later  after 
some  unusual  excitement  caused  by  drink  or  sexual  intercourse  his 
trouble  returns  and  again  he  takes  up  the  treatment  from  the  same  or  a 
different  advertiser. 

The  methods  of  these  “quacks,”  therefore,  ought  to  be  exposed,  and 
papers  which  print  these  advertisements  ought  to  be  prosecuted  along 
with  the  advertisers. 


EXISTING  CONDITIONS. 

Certain  papers  published  in  Chicago,  both  in  English  and  foreign 
languages,  contain  advertisements  of  physicians  purporting  to  treat 
and  cure  diseases  of  men.  Some  of  these  announcements  describe  in 
detail  certain  symptoms  which  are  recognized  as  the  results  of  venereal 
diseases. 


^Pearson's  Magazine,  November,  1910,  page  595. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


223 


Eight  of  these  advertisements  appeared  in  the  November  8th  issue 
of  the  (X1083),  five  in  the  November  11th  issue  of  (X1084)  and  one 
in  the  September  14th,  1910,  issue  of  (X1085). 

The  majority  of  the  announcements  in  English  refer  to  urinary 
troubles,  the  one  in  a paper  published  in  a foreign  language  actually 
mentions  syphilis. 

In  many  of  the  toilet  rooms  of  saloons  in  the  city,  advertisements 
of  physicians  purporting  to  cure  men’s  diseases  are  tacked  up  on  the 
wall.  In  other  instances  the  name  of  certain  drugs  for  the  treatment 
of  such  cases  are  also  in  evidence.  One  of  the  most  common  is  a 
drug  named  (X1086).  This  is  printed  on  tin  and  tacked  to  the  wall 
of  these  toilets.  The  sign  contains  the  name  of  (XlG86a)  from  whom 
this  nostrum  can  be  purchased. 

Another  method  employed  to  advertise  this  same  drug  is  by  the  use 
of  small  boxes  of  matches.  The  word  (X1086)  is  printed  in  red 
letters  on  the  box,  also  the  name  of  (X1086a)  from  whom  it  can  be 
purchased. 

It  would  certainly  appear  that  these  advertisements  come  within  the 
statutes  and  ordinances.^ 


THE  PRACTICE  OF  ABORTION  AND  ITS  RELATION  TO  THE  SOCIAL  EVIL. 

Illinois  is  one  of  the  very  few  states  that  have  laws  regulating  the 
practice  of  midwifery.^ 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  whether  or  not  there  is  any  connection 
between  the  practice  of  abortion  and  the  social  evil.  This  connection, 
if  any  exists,  is  much  more  difficult  to  establish  than  any  of  the  recog- 
nized causes.  Everyone  will  agree,  however,  that  any  experience 
which  tends  to  undermine  the  moral  sense  of  girls  or  young  women 
is  dangerous  and  should  be  prevented.  Incidents  are  on  record  where 
girls  who  have  had  abortions  performed  have  become  reckless  and 
discouraged,  and  have  actually  entered  upon  a life  of  prostitution. 

It  has  not  been  possible  for  the  Commission  to  undertake  a very 
extensive  investigation  into  this  phase  of  the  subject,  but  enough  has 
been  done  to  establish  the  fact  that  such  conditions  exist  in  Chicago. 
It  has  been  unfortunate  also  that  the  time  has  been  too  limited  to  in- 
vestigate certain  suspicious  physicians,  also  druggists  who  dispose  of 


lAppendices  XXIX,  XXX. 
2Appendices  XXI-XXIa-XXIb. 


224 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


abortion  drugs  and  instruments  over  the  counter,  or  through  advertise- 
ments in  the  papers. 

The  brief  investigation  was  confined  to  a small  number  of  midwives, 
especially  those  who  advertise  in  a public  way. 

Attention  is  first  called  to  certain  advertisem.ents  which  appeared 
in  foreign  papers,  and  in  some  papers  published  in  the  English 
language. 

An  advertisement  appeared  in  the  (X1088)  (foreign)  on  Septem- 
ber 15,  1910.  This  announcement  declared  that  a graduate  midwife 
would  send  valuable  information  for  girls  and  married  women  telling 
them  what  and  what  nor  to  do  before  and  after  marriage.  “Thousands 
are  made  happy  by  this  knowledge.  The  reader  must  send  four  cents 
in  stamps.” 

This  postage  was  sent  by  the  Commission  office  to  the  address  given 
and  in  a few  days  two  circulars. in  the  Polish  language  were  received. 
One  of  these  circulars  again  set  forth  the  value  of  having  the  book 
which  would  tell  things  “girls  and  married  women  should  know.”  The 
book,  declares  the  advertiser,  “is  worth  many  dollars,”  but  she  “wants 
to  make  everybody  happy  so  she  will  send  it  for  one  dollar  only.” 

The  second  circular,  also  published  in  the  Polish  language,  is  writ- 
ten in  indecent  and  vulgar  language.  Among  other  things  the  adver- 
tiser describes  a rubber  instrument  which  is  to  be  used  to  prevent  con- 
ception.i 

This  is  certainly  a case  for  the  Federal  Government,  as  well  as  State 
authorities  to  investigate  and  punish. 

Two  other  advertisements  appeared  in  many  papers  published  in 
English.  They  are  worded,  however,  in  such  a way  as  to  render  prose- 
cution difficult  and  practically  impossible.  Both  of  these  advertise- 
ments appeared  in  the  (X1089)  of  Chicago  (English)  under  date  of 
November  11,  1910. 

Another  advertisement  is  that  of  Dr.  (X1090),  (X1091)  avenue,  and 
calls  attention  to  the  (X1092)  College  of  Midwifery.  The  announce- 
ment says  that  this  college  is  incorporated  under  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  in  the  year  1891  and  its  diplomas  are  recognized  all 
over  the  United  States. 

iThe  translation  of  the  matter  sent  through  the  mails  b3'  this  advertiser  is 
full  of  vile  and  abhorrent  information.  It  cannot  be  printed. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


225 


On  November  21,  1910,  investigator  called  at  the  address  given  in 
the  advertisement  of  the  (X1092)  College.  Dr.  (X1090)  said  that 
the  course  for  a diploma  in  midwifery  would  cost  $100.00,  with  an 
additional  five  dollars  for  a book.  He  further  stated  that  the  student 
would  have  to  pay  $25.00  for  an  examination.  This  money  was  to  be 
given  to  him  and  he  in  turn  would  give  it  to  the  State  Board  of  Health, 
when  he  made  the  application  for  the  examination.^ 

The  doctor  said  that  the  course  usually  took  eight  weeks  to  com- 
plete. The  practical  part  of  the  work  is  given  by  his  wife,  who  takes 
the  student  with  her  when  she  attends  births.  She  is  a midwife.  When 
the  investigator  left,  the  doctor  gave  her  his  business  card  and  one 
other  card  which  contained  practically  the  same  information  that  ap- 
peared in  the  advertisement. 

TYPICAL  CASES. 

During  the  period  of  this  investigation  twenty  midwives  were  visited. 
Of  this  number,  six  absolutely  refused  to  perform  abortion,  one  was 
not  at  home,  and  two  said  they  would  not  do  the  operation,  but  re- 
ferred investigators  to  midwives  who  would  do  so.  The  remaining 
twelve  agreed  to  perform  the  supposed  abortion  for  different  sums  of 
money.  One  woman  (X1095),  it  was  learned  from  court  records. 
Was  arrested  twice  during  1908-09  on  the  charge  of  committing  abor- 
tions, but  her  cases  were  dismissed,  probably  for  lack  of  proper  evi- 
dence which  is  difficult  to  secure. 

The  following  are  typical  instances : 

November  8.  Miss  (X1096),  (X1097)  (X1097a)  street.  Four 
)^oung  women  were  waiting  for  abortion  operations.  Charge  for  serv- 
ice $10.00.  The  method  required  two  treatments.  Miss  (X1096)  is  a 
German ; speaks  very  broken  English.  In  personal  appearance  she 
is  dirty  and  queer.  She  lives  in  a basement,  which  appeared  to  be 
insanitary.  From  her  conversation  she  is  an  old  offender. 

November  10.  Mrs.  (X1099),  (XI 100)  (XI  100a)  street.  Offered 
to  perform  an  abortion  for  $50.00.  Uses  drugs.  She  said  patient 
could  stay  with  her  so  she  could  watch  the  case.  Her  home  was  clean. 

November  10.  Mrs.  (XI 101),  (XI 102)  (XI  102a)  avenue.  This 
midwife  would  not  perform  the  abortion  herself,  but  agreed  to  send 
the  supposed  patient  to  another  midwife  who  would.  This  other 
woman  worked  with  a doctor.  Mrs.  (XI 101)  would  not  give  the  name 
of  this  midwife  or  the  doctor  until  she  herself  had  examined  the  case. 
The  price  would  not  be  less  than  $50.00. 

^Section  5 of  the  law  states  that  the  examination  fee  for  the  practice  of 
midwifery  is  five  dollars,  and  three  dollars  for  a certificate  if  one  is  issued. 
See  Appendix  XXI. 


226 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


November  12.  Mrs.  (XI 104),  (XI  104a)  (XI  104b)  street.  The  sup- 
posed patient  said  she  was  unmarried.  The  midwife  then  agreed  to 
perform  the  abortion  for  $25.00,  but  the  patient  must  stay  with  her. 
After  arguing  about  the  price,  she  dropped  to  $20.00  and  $1.00  for 
visits.  She  said  it  was  “a  great  risk  as  the  law  was  after  them.” 

November  12.  Mrs.  (XI 105),  (XI  105a)  (XI  105b)  street.  The 
woman  was  dirty,  and  the  room  dark  and  dismal.  The  supposed  patient 
said  she  was  not  married.  Mrs.  (X1105)  agreed  to  perform  the  oper- 
ation for  $15.00. 

November  12.  (XI 107),  (XI 108)  (XI  108a)  street.  Fonnerly  at 
(XI 109).  She  agreed  to  perform  the  abortion  for  $25.00  but  finally 
came  down  to  $20.00.  Said  the  patient  would  have  to  stay  with 
her  for  two  or  three  days.  The  midwife  said  she  had  a patient  in 
the  house  and  another  one  who  had  just  had  an  operation  was  in  the 
next  room. 

November  14.  Mrs.  (XlllO),  (X1112)  (X1112a)  street.  She  said 
she  would  not  perform  an  abortion  but  said  that  a Mrs.  (X1113) 
on  (X1114)  near  (X1115)  street  would  do  it. 

November  14.  Mrs.  (XI 116),  (XI  116a)  (XI  116b)  street.  She 
said  she  would  perform  the  abortion  if  she  felt  the  patient  was  on  “the 
square,”  or  had  been  sent  by  some  one  she  knew.  She  had  to  be 
careful  as  detectives  were  sent  out  from  the  City  Hall  to  try  the  mid- 
wives. 

November  14._  (XI 117),  (XI 118)  (XI  118a)  street.  She  was 
afraid  to  deal  with  strangers  as  the  people  at  the  City  Hall  watched 
them.  If  she  could  feel  sure  there  would  be  no  trouble  she  would  per- 
form the  abortion  for  $30.00.  The  patient  would  have  to  stay  with 
her  for  two  or  three  days.  The  flat  appeared  to  be  clean. 

November  17.  Mrs.  (XI 119),  (XI 120)  (XI  120a)  avenue.  She 
was  afraid  at  first  that  the  supposed  patient  had  been  sent  JUt  from 
the  City  Hall.  “Of  course,”  she  said,  “it  is  against  the  law,  but  we  all 
do  it,  if  any  detective  came  to  her  home  she  would  put  him  out 
of  the  door  quick.” 

Mrs.  (XI 119)  then  agreed  to  perform  the  abortion  for  $40.00  if 
she  had  to  take  her  into  the  house.  She  worked  with  a doctor,  to 
whom  she  gave  $10.00.  She  said  that  she  has  a good  many  young 
girls  coming  to  her. 

November  17.  Mrs.  (X1121),  (X1122)  (XI  122a)  avenue.  As  the 
investigators  entered  two  young  girls  who  had  had  treatments  were 
leaving  the  house.  Mrs.  (XI 121)  then  said  she  would  perform  the 
abortion  for  $30.00.  She  declared  that  a great  many  girls  seventeen 
and  eighteen  years  of  age  came  to  her,  and  that  she  was  very  busy  all 
the  time. 

November  19.  Mrs.  (X1123),  (X1124)  (X1124a)  street.  Offered 
to  sell  pills  for  $5.00,  and  if  they  did  not  work  would  give  another 
treatment  for  $25.00.  She  remarked  that  the  “girls  were  not  to 
blame.” 

November  22.  Mrs.  (X1125),  (X1126)  (X1126a)  avenue.  She 
agreed  to  perform  the  abortion  for  $20.00. 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


227 


November  23.  Mrs.  (XI 127),  (XI 128)  (XI  128a)  street.  Offered 
to  perform  the  abortion  for  $25.00,  but  the  patient  would  have  to  stay 
with  her.  During  the  interview,  the  midwife  said  if  these  abortions 
were  not  performed  there  would  be  a lot  of  babies  in  the  streets.  She 
believed  in  helping  the  girls  for  they  were  grateful  and  would  not  tell 
on  her.  If  a doctor  did  it  he  would  charge  $75.00.^ 

INVESTIGATIONS  OF  THE  IMMIGRANTS'’  PROTECTIVE  LEAGUE  OF  CHICAGO 
ON  THE  RELATION  OF  IMMIGRANT  WOMEN  AND  COLONIES  OF,  FOREIGN 
LABORING  MEN  IN  CONSTRUCTION  CAMPS,  LODGING  HOUSES  IN  CITIES, 
AND  ELSEWHERE. 

The  investigation  of  the  United  States  Immigration  Commission 
into  the  relation  of  the  immigrant  woman  to  the  social  evil  showed 
that  very  few  prostitutes  are  brought  into  the  United  States.  The 
great  majority  of  young  immigrant  women  who  were  found  in  resorts 
were  virtuous  when  they  came‘ here,  and  were  ruined  because  there 
was  not  adequate  protection  and  assistance  given  them  after  they 
reached  the  United  States.  Such  protection  is  especially  needed  on 
the  journey  to  Chicago,  and  in  the  location  of  her  relatives  and  friends. 
Because  of  her  ignorance  of  English  and  the  country,  a girl  may 
through  her  own  mistake  or  the  carelessness  of  railroad  officials  be 
left  at  the  wrong  station  or  persuaded  by  some  unscrupulous  person 
to  get  off  and  see  some  town  en  route.  Some  few  immoral  women 
and  men  doubtless  give  false  declarations  at  ports  of  entry  and  wel- 
come the  opportunities  which  the  journey  from  New  York  to  Chicago 
offers.  Federal  inspectors  on  the  trains,  some  of  them  women  and 
all  of  them  able  to  speak  to  the  immigrant  in  his  own  language,  could 
make  it  easy  for  the  girl  who  wants  to  reach  her  relatives  and  friends 
to  do  so,  and  difficult  for  those  who  have  entered  the  country  by  fraud 
and  misrepresentation  to  accomplish  their  purpose.  The  delivery  of 
immigrant  women  upon  their  arrival  in  Chicago  also  needs  supervision. 
At  present  they  are  turned  over  to  private  expressmen  and  cabmen, 
and  as  a result  because  of  incorrect  addresses  and  the  carelessness  or 
vicious  intent  of  the  drivers  the  Immigrants’  Protective  League  finds 
that  a good  many  girls  do  not  find  their  relatives  and  friends  in  Chi- 
cago. These  girls  are  nearly  all  from  the  country  districts  of  eastern 

^This  midwife  was  arrested  twice  in  1908-09  on  the  charge  of  abortion. 
Both  cases  were  dismissed. 


228 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Europe  and  are  therefore  peculiarly  helpless  in  such  a situation.  Better 
policing  of  the  railroad  stations  which  would  keep  runners  from  cheap 
and  disreputable  hotels  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  immigrant  wait- 
ing rooms,  more  supervision  of  express  and  cabmen  might  do  some- 
thing but  the  situation  can  be  properly  handled  only  by  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Federal  Protective  Bureau  under  the  Immigration  Depart- 
ment which  would  have  full  authority  to  detain  the  immigrants  and 
regulate  their  release  in  Chicago. 

Chicago  is  a great  labor  market  from  which  thousands  of  foreign 
men  ship  out  in  groups  of  30  or  more  to  work  on  the  railroads  and 
canals  that  are  being  built  all  over  the  country.  These  men  are  young, 
between  20  and  30  generally,  they  are  the  pioneers  of  their  race,  and 
have  come  in  advance  of  their  families,  most  of  them  are  without 
friends  or  connections  of  any  sort.  They  spend  their  summers  in  rail- 
road camps  in  complete  isolation  from  all  normal  social  contact.  The 
camps  are  usually  most  insanitary,  the  food  poor,  the  work  hard  and 
monotonous.  In  all  these  camps  there  are  usually  some  xA.merican  work- 
men who  have  become  diseased  and  demoralized  by  this  unnatural 
life.  From  them  the  others  are  unprotected  and  the  Bulgarians,  the 
Greeks  and  the  Poles  who  come  to  us  in  good  physical  condition  and 
with  decent  habits  contract  disease  and  learn  unnatural  practices.  It 
would  seem  most  important  that  a careful  study  should  be  made  of 
these  camps  in  order  that  some  practical  scheme  of  inspection  and 
supervision  should  be  worked  out  for  the  protection  of  the  men  and 
the  community  to  which  they  return.  For  these  men  return  by  the 
thousands  to  spend  the  winter  in  Chicago.  Here  they  are  also  isolated 
and  of  necessity  live  together  in  large  groups  in  neighborhoods  where 
they  are  exposed  to  vice.  The  public  should  realize  that  unless  some 
effort  is  made  to  reach  these  groups  of  foreign  men  and  furnish  them 
with  proper  social  contact  they  will  not  only  lose  their  own  health 
and  virtue,  but  become  a menace  to  the  community. 


INQUIRY  INTO  THE  SUBNORMAL  PHYSICAL  AND  MENTAL  CONDITION 
OF  JUVENILE  AND  OTHER  DELINQUENTS,  BOTH  MALE  AND  FEMALE. 

The  superintendent  of  a large  State  school  for  delinquent  girls  re- 
ports a large  proportion  of  them  to  be  children  of  alcoholic  degen- 
erates, who  in  addition  are  infected  with  venereal  disease.  From  chil- 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


229 


dren  with  such  an  heredity,  it  is  claimed  many  criminals  are  reared. 
“If  children  of  this  class  could  be  examined  by  an  expert  psychologist, 
apd  cared  for  in  early  life,  as  they  should  be,  the  larger  number  of 
them  would  never  reach  the  jails  and  penitentiaries.”  The  superin- 
tendent emphatically  asserts  that  “the  girls  who  come  to  us,  possessed 
of  normal  brain  power,  or  not  infected  with  venereal  disease,  we  look 
upon  as  a prize  indeed,  and  we  seldom  fail  to  make  a woman  worth 
while  of  a really  normal  girl,  whatever  her  environment  has  been. 
But  we  have  failed  in  numberless  cases,  where  the  environment  has 
been  all  right,  but  the  girl  was  born  wrong.  Normal  girls,  who  have 
drifted  into  houses  of  ill-fame,  can  be  saved,  for  they  will  help  the 
work  of  saving  themselves,  and  when  once  they  understand,  the  work 
is  well  under  way.  For  moral  imbeciles  there  will  be  little  else  than 
forcible  restraint  that  will  keep  them  right.” 

Inquiries  into  the  subnormal  condition  of  boys  and  young  men 
in  certain  State  institutions,  although  not  yet  considered  to  be  suf- 
ficiently scientific  to  be  trustworthy,  yet  indicate  that  while  feeble- 
mindedness decreased  the  strength  of  the  sexual  instinct  with  that  of 
other  capacities,  the  weakness  of  will  and  judgment  lays  these  de- 
fectives open  to  temptation  and  exploitation. 


SUMMARY  OF  CONDITIONS  INVOLVED  IN  PERSONAL  HISTORIES,  AND  IN- 
VESTIGATED RECORDS,  SUGGESTING  THE  RECOMMENDATIONS  OFFERED 
BY  THE  COMMISSION. 

(a)  Home  Conditions. 

In  a large  proportion  of  the  2,420  cases  under  review,  the  home 
conditions  have  contributed  to,  if  they  have  not  caused,  the  downfall 
of  the  daughters  or  wives.  The  perversion  of  natural  sex  relationships 
by  incest,  by  immorality  of  the  mother  or  guardian,  or  by  the  evil 
example  of  a brother,  sister,  or  other  relative,  and  by  the  abuse  of  the 
marriage  relation  in  prostituting  the  wife  by  and  for  the  benefit  of 
the  husband,  is  the  specific  source  of  the  ruin  of  many  of  these  lives. 
The  failure  of  the  parental  relation  by  reason  of  divorce  and  deser-. 
tion,  and,  in  some  instances,  by  the  excessive  demands  upon  the  mother 
by  the  care  of  a large  household  without  sufficient  income  or  help,  is 
also  the  occasion  for  many  neglected  children  going  astray.  The  lack 
of  home  instruction  in  the  use  and  abuse  of  sex  organs  and  relation- 


230 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ships,  together  with  a neglect  to  safeguard  the  leisure  time,  especially 
in  the  evening,  and  the  failure  to  supervise  the  reading  and  the  asso- 
ciation of  the  children,  account  for  much  of  their  demoralization. 

(b)  Economic  Conditions. 

Among  the  economic  conditions  contributory  to  the  social  evil  are 
low  wages,  insanitary  conditions,  demoralizing  relationships  in  stores, 
shops,  domestic  service,  restaurants  and  hotels;  the  street  vending  of 
children  in  selling  papers  and  gum,  collecting  coupons  and  refuse ; 
the  messenger  service  of  boys,  especially  in  the  vicinity  of  disorderly 
houses,  vicious  saloons,  dance  halls  and  other  demoralizing  resorts; 
employment  agencies,  which  send  servants  to  immoral  places;  the  rest 
rooms  or  waiting  places  where  applicants  for  work  resort ; too  long 
hours  and  the  high  pressure  of  work ; the  overcrowding  of  houses  upon 
lots,  of  families  in  the  house,  and  of  persons  in  single  rooms. 

(c)  Recreational  Conditions,. 

Among  the  recreational  conditions  directly  tributary  to  the  increase 
of  the  victims  of  vice,  are  the  privately  managed  amusement  parks; 
dance  halls,  where  bar  permits  are  granted,  or  which  are  in  the 
vicinity  of  saloons ; candy,  ice  cream  and  fruit  stores  used  as  pleasure 
resorts ; immoral  shows,  theater  plays  and  moving  pictures ; saloons 
where  music,  vaudeville  performances,  and  other  recreational  attrac- 
tions are  accessory  to  the  drink  habit ; drug  stores,  where  gambling 
devices  and  the  selling  of  cocaine  and  other  drugs  are  accessories. 

(d)  Procuring. 

The  supply  of  victims  of  the  social  vice,  both  female  and  male,  is 
increased  and  perpetuated  far  beyond  the  number  whose  vicious  in- 
clinations lead  them  astray,  by  the  direct,  persistent,  often  concerted 
efforts  of  procurers.  They  include  both  men  and  women,  bartenders, 
waiters  in  saloons  and  restaurants,  managers  and  employes  in  theaters, 
nickel  shows,  penny  picture  arcades,  employers,  floor  walkers  and  in- 
spectors in  stores  and  shops,  keepers  of  employment  offices,  hackmen, 
expressmen  and  runners  at  railway  stations  and  boat  landings,  mid- 
wives and  doctors,  fortune  tellers,  cadets,  keepers  and  attendants  in 
dance  halls,  private  recreation  parks,  assignation  houses,  hotels  and 
flats,  call  houses,  disorderly  saloons,  and  houses  of  prostitution. 

They  work  through  advertisements  in  new’spapers  published  in  for- 
eign languages  as  well  as  in  English,  rest  rooms  in  department  stores 


SOURCES  OF  SUPPLY 


231 


and  even  at  the  counters  in  certain  departments ; at  theaters,  especially 
on  amateur  nights ; at  employment  agencies  including  those  connected 
with  mercantile  and  industrial  establishments  and  in  many  other  ways. 
The  general  delivery  of  the  post  office  is  both  used  and  watched  as  a 
secret  and  safe  way  of  spotting,  inveigling  and  trapping  young  girls. 

(e)  The  inquiry  in  Chicago  regarding  white  slavery,  or  the  in- 
voluntary participation  in  the  social  vice,  for  the  profit  of  exploiters, 
reaches  conclusions  similar  to  those  of  the  Research  Committee  of  the 
Committee  of  Fourteen  in  New  York  City,  and  to  those  presented  by 
the  additional  Grand  Jury  for  the  January  term  of  the  Court  of  Gen- 
eral Sessions  of  the  County  of  New  York,  “in  the  Matter  of  the  In- 
vestigation as  to  the  Alleged  Existence  in  the  County  of  New  York 
of  an  Organized  Traffic  in  Women  for  Immoral  Purposes.” 

The  findings  of  the  Grand  Jury  include  the  following: 

“It  appears  from  indictments  found  by  us  and  from  the  testimony 
of  witnesses  that  a trafficking  in  the  bodies  of  women  does  exist,  and 
is  carried  on  by  individuals,  acting  for  their  own  individual  benefit, 
and  that  these  persons  are  known  to  each  other,  and  are  more  or  less 
informally  associated.  We  have  also  found  that  associations  and  clubs, 
composed  mainly  or  wholly  of  those  profiting  from  vice,  have  existed, 
and  that  one  such  association  still  exists.  These  associations  and  clubs, 
are  analogous  to  commercial  bodies  in  other  fields,  which,  while  not 
directly  engaged  in  commerce,  are  composed  of  individuals  all  of  whom 
as  individuals  are  so  engaged.” 

The  Committee  of  Fourteen,  through  its  Research  Committee, 
charged  with  the  study  of  Law  Enforcement  against  the  Social  Evil 
in  New  York  City,  report  on  this  point  as  follows: 

“Some  of  the  profit  sharers  must  be  dispensed  with  through  the 
force  of  public  opinion  or  by  means  of  heavy  penalties,  before 
the  growth  of  vice  can  be  checked.  These  include  those  who 
profit  off  the  place — the  landlord,  agent,  janitor,  amusement  dealer, 
brewer,  and  furniture  dealer ; those  who  profit  off  the  act — the 
keeper,  procurer,  druggist,  physician,  midwife,  police  officer,  and 
politician ; those  who  profit  off  the  children — employers,  procurers, 
and  public  service  corporations ; those  who  deal  in  the  futures  of 
vice — publishers,  manufacturers  and  vendors  of  vicious  pictures 
and  articles ; those  who  exploit  the  unemployed — the  employment 
agent  and  employers ; a group  of  no  less  than  nineteen  middlemen, 
who  are  profit-sharers  in  vice.” 


232 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Facts,  such  as  these  and  many  more,  proving  the  international  trafific 
and  interstate  trade  in  women  and  girls  for  immoral  purposes,  are 
abundantly  substantiated  in  the  report  on  the  White  Slave  Traffic 
rendered  to  the  House  of  Representatives  by  the  Committee  on  Inter- 
State  and  Foreign  Commerce  on  December  21,  1909  (report  No.  47), 
and  by  the  records  of  the  United  States  Circuit  and  District  Courts 
for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois,  Eastern  Division. 

(f)  The  lack  of  authentic  information  regarding  the  relation  be- 
tween subnormality  and  sexual  delinquency  suggests  recommendations 
to  be  found  elsewhere.^ 

(g)  The  lack  of  information,  education  and  training  with  refer- 
ence to  the  function  and  control  of  the  sexual  instinct,  and  the  conse- 
quences of  its  abuse  and  perversion,  appears  at  every  point  of  our 
inquiry  for  the  sources  of  the  supply  of  the  victims  of  vice,  either  as 
the  cause  of  the  perversion  of  children  and  youth  or  as  a complication 
of  all  other  causes.  This  conclusion  is  abundantly  substantiated  by 
Prof.  Charles  Richmond  Henderson’s  discussion  of  “Education  with 
Reference  to  Sex — Pathologic,  Economic  and  Social  Aspects,”  in  the 
Eighth  Yearbook  of  the  National  Society  for  the  Scientific  Study  of 
Education.  The  necessity  for  giving  information,  the  paths  of  ap- 
proach in  formal  instruction  to  be  given  to  the  young  child,  at  the  age 
of  puberty,  in  the  adolescent  period,  to  adults  about  the  time  of  mar- 
riage, and  to  parents,  together  with  the  difficulties  encountered,  the 
need  to  train  teachers,  and  the  value  of  making  such  instruction  a part 
of  the  general  education  of  the  child  instead  of  a separate  and  formal 
branch  of  instruction,  are  frankly  and  fully  discussed  in  this  valuable 
monograph. 

For  recommendations  by  the  Commission  on  above  subjects  see 
page  55. 


^See  page  60,  Recommendations. 


Chapter  V. 


Child  Protection  and 
Education. 


CHAPTER  V. 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION, 


The  problem  of  social  vice  cannot  be  solved  by  any  short  and  sure 
method.  The  efforts  to  protect  children  from  evil  influence  require 
the  consideration  of  many  problems.  The  greatest  influence  in  the 
child’s  life  is  religion.  We  may  educate  the  child  and  improve  his 
economic  condition,  but  without  a moral  instinct  he  will  not  be  a 
moral  child.  Another  great  factor  in  immorality  is  the' taint  of  heredity. 
For  this  there  can  be  but  one  solution — the  growth  in  righteousness  and 
the  overcoming  of  the  immoral  instinct  through  religious  conviction, 
and  passing  to  the  future  generation  a pure  mind  and  a clean  heart. 

Five  factors  enter  into  the  moulding  of  a child’s  character — the 
church,  the  home,  the  school,  social  environment,  and  the  amusements 
which  it  employs  during  its  leisure  hours. 

Children  of  all  ages  need  guidance  and  protection.  While  many 
children  develop  into  useful  citizens  in  spite  of  evil  surroundings,  a 
few  eventually  oecome  a menace  to  society  in  spite  of  every  effort 
in  their  behalf.  Next  to  a religious  influence,  the  rule  still  holds  that 
a good  home,  a good  education  and  environment,  healthful  employ- 
ment and  recreation  under  moral  conditions,  are  very  much  to  be  de- 
sired, and  it  is  a great  misfortune  when  these  have  not  been  given.  Im- 
moral influences  are  frequently  thrust  upon  children  through  the  per- 
nicious activities  of  immoral  people,  and  because  of  lack  of  protection, 
proper  instructions  or  guidance  from  those  who  should  have  the  child’s 
welfare  at  heart. 

The  problem  of  the  care  of  children  in  the  school  is  not  within  the 
scope  of  this  report,  except  in  so  far  as  schools  are  affected  by  vice 
districts  in  their  neighborhood,  or  by  immoral  children  or  adults  in 
or  near  them,  or  by  the  dangers  from  children  who  may  be  afflicted 
with  disease.  To  protect  children  from  these  dangers  all  possible 
means  should  be  adopted. 

Education  alone  has  seldom  protected  either  children  or  grown 
people,  except  in  a limited  way,  unless  a moral  character  is  developed 


235 


236 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


along  with  the  instruction.  However,  for  those  who  have  moral  char- 
acter, or  those  in  whom  it  can  be  developed,  a proper  education  will 
enable  them  to  avoid  or  protect  themselves  from  what  is  wrong,  and 
help  them  to  choose  those  things  which  make  for  health  and  right 
living. 

Investigation  into  city  conditions  shows  that  it  is  often  difficult  and 
sometimes  impossible  to  protect  children  and  young  people  from  the 
activities  of  vicious  people.  Harm  sometimes  comes  from  a misunder- 
standing of  their  own  physical  and  emotional  life.  Each  young  person 
should  know  how  and  what  to  avoid,  to  understand  the  meaning  of 
improper  advances.  In  order  to  know  what  is  needed  for  the  pro- 
tection of  young  people  the  dangers  to  which  they  are  subjected  must 
be  pointed  out. 

According  to  the  law  all  persons  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years 
are  considered  wards  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  their  persons  are 
subject  to  the  care,  guardianship  and  control  of  the  courts,  provided, 
however,  that  guardianship  of.  the  child  be  had  by  the  court  before 
child  has  reached  eighteen  years.  For  the  purpose  of  this  report  then, 
it  is  understood  that  this  study  refers  to  the  protection  of  all  children 
whatever  their  age,  and  education  of  all  young  persons  between  the 
age  of  puberty  and  the  age  of  majority. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  immoral  influences  and  dangers 
which  surround  children  and  young  people  affect  them  to  a greater 
or  less  degree  according  to  their  ages.  For  instance,  if  the  child  is 
quite  young,  these  evil  impressions  may  become  fixed  and  have  a 
marked  influence  throughout  its  whole  life,  or  these  evil  impressions 
may  be  counteracted  by  wise  methods,  if  administered  in  time.  x\fter 
the  age  of  puberty  these  influences  become  grave  and  often  result  in 
the  immediate  downfall  of  the  child.  This  downfall  becomes  perma- 
nent unless  heroic  measures  are  taken  to  save  him.^ 

The  following  report,  therefore,  points  out  the  immoral  influences 
surrounding  children  of  all  ages. 


^For  text  of  laws  and  ordinances,  see  appendices  XVIII,  XX,  XXIT, 
XXIII,  XXIV,  XXV,  XXXI,  XXXVIII. 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


237 


IMMORAL  INFLUENCES  AND  DANGERS. 

7.  Children  in  Vicinity  of  Vice  Districts.  It  is  a notorious  fact 
that  many  children  of  all  ages  are  compelled  by  poverty  or  circum- 
stances to  live  within  or  in  close  proximity  to  the  restricted  districts 
in  Chicago.  Because  of  this  these  children  are  subjected  to  great 
moral  dangers.  They  become  familiar  with  scenes  of  debauchery  and 
drunkenness  until  they  are  careless  and  indifferent.  Their  moral  stand- 
ards are  lowered  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is  difficult  to  fill  their  minds 
with  wholesome  thoughts  and  high  ideals.  In  addition  to  the  presence 
of  prostitutes  near  the  homes,  the  children  are  in  danger  from  vicious 
men  and  boys  who  frequent  such  districts. 

According  to  the  school  census  taken  in  1910,  there  were  3,931 
children  under  twenty-one  years  of  age  in  the  First  Ward.  Of  this 
number,  1,246  were  under  four  years  of  age,  259  from  four  to  five,  216 
from  five  to  six,  257  from  six  to  seven,  1,124  from  seven  to  fourteen, 
313  from  fourteen  to  sixteen,  and  513  over  sixteen  and  under  twenty- 
one. 

The  principal  restricted  district  in  the  City  of  Chicago  is  located  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  First  Ward.  Within  the  boundaries  of  this 
district  there  are  298  children  of  all  ages  from  babies  in  arms  to  those 
twenty  years  of  age. 

Sixty-seven  of  these  children  live  in  a row  of  houses  on  South 
Clark  street,  one  block  in  length.  The  rear  of  these  houses  overlooks 
the  rear  rooms  of  a row  of  houses  of  prostitution  with  front  entrances 
on  the  next  street.  The  houses  are  dilapidated  tenements  and  are 
used  by  the  families  on  account  of  the  cheap  rent.  The  majority  of 
these  are  children  of  foreign  parents.  The  ages  of  these  children 
range  from  three  months  to  seventeen  years. 

It  is  asserted  that  these  families  may  witness  scenes  of  depravity 
through  the  windows  of  their  houses,  and  that  the  children  are  in  great 
moral  danger  from  the  intimate  association  with  vice. 

Some  of  the  children  within  these  boundaries  are  living  in  close 
proximity  to  houses  of  prostitution  and  saloons  frequented  by  pros- 
titutes. 

For  instance,  nine  children,  from  one  to  nineteen  years  of  age  live 
at  (XI 129)  State  street.  There  is  a notorious  saloon  at  (XI 130) 
State,  a few  doors  away. 

I'wenty-four  children  live  on  State  street  from  (X1131)  to  (X1132) 


238 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


near  disreputable  saloons,  and  only  one  block  away  from  the  notorious 
houses  on  Dearborn  street. 

18th  Ward.  According  to  the  school  census  for  1910  there  were 
4,364  children  in  the  18th  Ward.  Of  this  number,  1,032  were  under 
four,  84  from  four  to  five,  98  from  five  to  six,  87  from  six  to 
seven,  1,518  from  seven  to  fourteen,  330  from  fourteen  to  sixteen 
and  1,215  over  sixteen  and  under  twenty-one. 

Within  the  boundaries  of  the  restricted  district  in  this  district  there 
are  433  children  from  babies  in  arms  to  twenty-one  years  of  age.  Of 
these,  154  live  on  the  boundaries. 

The  children  living  within  these  boundaries  are  in  close  proximity 
to  houses  of  prostitution  and  disorderly  saloons. 

The  Commission  has  a record  of  a prostitute  on  Randolph  street 
soliciting  two  boys  in  knee  pants  to  enter  and  offering  as  an  induce- 
ment “two  for  a quarter.” 

One  day  a man  was  solicited  by  a prostitute  standing  on  the  porch 
of  her  home  in  one  of  the  restricted  districts  while  a number  of  young 
boys  were  playing  in  the  street  in  front  of  this  house. 

The  following  history  of  a tenement  family  near  the  22nd  street  dis- 
trict is  a case  in  point: 

A skilled  mechanic  had  a wife  and  four  children  (one  boy  and  three 
girls).  The  children  were  well  cared  for  and  went  to  Sunday-school 
as  long  as  the  mother  lived.  The  father  drank  some  but  seemed  to 
take  good  care  of  his  family,  and  his  wages  were  frequently  as  high 
as  $4.50  a day.  When  the  oldest  girl  was  eleven  the  mother  died. 
The  father  continued  to  care  for  his  family,  and,  while  he  drank,  it 
did  not  seem  to  be  a case  where  the  courts  should  take  the  children 
away  from  him.  The  boy  was  killed  while  playing  in  the  street.  The 
girls  took  care  of  the  house,  but  the  denizens  of  the  restricted  district 
made  the  acquaintance  of  the  children  as  they  went  to  neighborhood 
stores  or  when  they  were  on  the  street.  As  fast  as  each  little  girl  was 
old  enough  she  was  enticed  into  the  vice  district  and  in  time  all  be- 
came public  prostitutes. 

II.  Prostitution  in  Residential  Sections.  The  investigation  of  ex- 
isting conditions  in  Chicago  proves  conclusively  that  there  are  many 
immoral  women  living  in  flats  and  furnished  rooms  all  over  the  city 
in  residential  sections.  Here  again  children  of  the  neighborhood  come 


CHILD  protection  AND  EDUCATION 


239 


to  know  the  character  of  the  women  and  instances  have  come  to  light 
where  they  have  actually  been  enticed  into  their  homes.  The  children 
run'  errands  for  these  women  and  receive  presents  of  candy  and  fruit 
in  return  for  such  services.  In  one  particular  instance  a woman  so- 
licited from  the  doorway  of  a house  while  a child  was  playing  on 
the  porch. 

Special  reference  should  be  made  here  to  the  colored  children-  who 
are  compelled  to  live  in  one  of  the  colored  communities  on  South 
State  street  just  outside  the  boundaries  of  the  restricted  district  on 
the  South  Side. 

It  is  said  there  are  173  saloons  in  this  community,  many  of  which  are 
given  over  to  gambling  and  are  frequented  by  immoral  women  and 
vicious  men.  In  this  neighborhood  there  are  a great  many  flats  and 
assignation  rooms  occupied  by  prostitutes. 

Many  colored  and  white  children  live  among  these  immoral  and 
degrading  conditions. 

As  these  young  colored  girls  reach  maturity  they  easily  fall  a prey 
to  prostitution.  Many  of  them  are  employed  in  houses  and  flats  of 
prostitution  where  they  act  as  maids,  cooks  and  attendants.^ 

III.  Disorderly  Saloons  and  Schools.  There  are  a number  of  sa- 
loons in  the  city  frequented  by  dissolute  and  vicious  men  and  immoral 
women  in  close  proximity  to  school  houses.  One  school  property  in 
particular  on  the  North  Side  adjoins  the  lot  on  which  a disorderly 
saloon  building  is  located. 

The  rooms  over  the  saloon  are  used  for  immoral  purposes,  and  the 
school  authorities  testify  that  the  children  may  see  into  these  rooms 
from  the  school  windows  and  from  the  playgrounds. ^ 

IV.  Disorderly  Saloons  and  Children.  In  addition  to  the  proximity 
of  schools  to  disorderly  saloons,  the  investigation  shows  that  very 
young  boys  are  allowed  to  frequent  disorderly  saloons.  The  follow- 
ing cases  are  typical : 

A boy  about  ten  years  of  age  named  Jimmie  has  frequently  been 
seen  selling  gum  after  12 : 00  o’clock  at  night  in  disreputable  saloons 
on  South  Halsted  and  West  Madison  streets. 

One  evening  a boy  about  fifteen  years  of  age  was  loitering  about 
the  rear  room  of  a disorderly  saloon  on  Chicago  avenue. 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  pag-e  218. 

2This  is  the  same  saloon  referred  to  in  Chapter  III,  page  138. 


240 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


A girl  who  said  she  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  appeared  to 
be,  was  singing  in  this  saloon. 

A small  colored  boy,  who  the  bartender  said  was  only  fourteen  years 
of  age,  was  playing  the  violin  in  another  disorderly  saloon. 

One  afternoon  investigator  saw  two  very  young  boys,  one  selling 
newspapers,  the  other  blacking  the  shoes  of  the  piano  player  in  the 
rear  room  of  a disreputable  saloon  on  West  Madison  street.  There 
were  four  prostitutes  in  this  room  at  the  same  time  who  were  soliciting 
men  to  go  to  rooms  over  the  saloon. 

This  is  a condition  which  should  be  remedied,  even  if  the  State  has 
to  step  in  and  provide  homes  for  such  children. 

V.  Vicious  and  Degenerate  Men.  The  court  records  show  that 
vicious  and  degenerate  men  seek  out  young  boys  and  girls  and  fill  their 
minds  with  filthy  and  obscene  suggestions  and  teach  them  lewd  and 
unnatural  practices.  Some  of  these  men  frequent  the  neighborhood 
of  school  houses  and  distribute  obscene  cards  and  literature.  They  go 
to  public  parks  and  take  liberties  with  innocent  children.  Some  of 
these  men  are  afflicted  with  chronic  venereal  diseases,  and  have  a su- 
perstition that  they  can  be  cured  of  their  trouble  by  transferring  it  to 
a virgin.  Many  prostitutes  have  this  same  belief.  As  a result,  inno- 
cent children,  both  boys  and  girls,  have  been  contaminated. 

Within  a period  of  two  weeks  the  courts  tried  three  men  on  the 
charge  of  perverting  the  morals  of  young  girls.  One  offender  was 
seventy-five  years  of  age.  He  was  found  guilty  of  trying  to  seduce  ten 
or  twelve  girls  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  twelve.  One  man  was 
in  the  habit  of  loitering  about  the  (XI 137)  school  on  the  South  Side. 
He  drew  obscene  pictures  which  he  gave  to  little  girls  who  went  to 
the  school.  He  also  offered  them  money  and  had  ruined  four  or  five 
girls  before  he  was  indicted. 

One  man  named  (XI 138)  ruined  a little  girl  near  the  (XI 139) 
school  and  gave  her  a reprehensible  disease.  The  facts  brought  out 
at  the  trial  so  inflamed  the  jury  that  after  being  out  a few  minutes 
they  returned  a verdict  of  ninety-nine  years. 

Another  person  named  (XI 140)  was  called  the  “doll  man’  because 
he  gave  dolls  to  young  girls  to  whom  he  was  attracted. 

Recently  a graduate  of  (XI 141)  University,  a member  of  a leading 
social  club  on  the  (XI 142)  side  was  apprehended.  He  had  a habit 
of  riding  a bicycle  in  the  public  parks  and  persuading  young  girls 
to  go  into  the  park  with  him.  It  was  proved  that  he  had  ruined  seven 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


241 


of  these  girls,  all  under  fourteen  years  of  age.  This  man  also  photo- 
graphed his  victims  and  a number  of  these  pictures  were  seized  when 
he  was  arrested.  One  was  a little  girl  not  over  ten  years  of  age. 

Many  such  cases  are  available,  but  most  of  the  details  are  too  re- 
volting to  print.  The  public  should  be  aroused  in  behalf  of  better 
protection  of  children  from  such  dangers. 

VI.  Venereal  Disease  Among  Children.  One  of  the  saddest  aspects 
of  the  whole  problem  of  the  social  evil  is  the  fact  that  hundreds  of 
innocent  children  have  become  infected  by  venereal  diseases. 

During  a period  of  twenty-seven  months  600  children  under  twelve 
years  of  age  have  passed  through  the  venereal  ward  of  the  Cook 
County  Hospital.  Sixty  per  cent., of  the  children  had  been  innocently 
infected,  twenty  per  cent,  inherited  the  disease,  and  twenty-five  per 
cent,  had  been  assaulted  by  diseased  persons.  About  fifteen  per  cent, 
had  syphilis  and  eighty-five  per  cent,  had  gonorrhoea. 

At  one  time  there  was  an  epidemic  of  gonorrhoea  among  little  girls 
ill  the  contagious  ward  of  the  County  Hospital.  Eighty-six  cases  of 
this  dreadful  disease  were  brought  in  by  fifteen  children.  The  dread- 
ful results  of  venereal  diseases  among  children  are  almost  beyond 
belief. 


ECONOMIC  AND  HOME  CONDITIONS  AFFECTING  CHILDREN  AND  YOUNG 

PEOPLE. 

The  economic  and  home  conditions  under  which  children  and  young 
people  are  compelled  to  work  and  live  present  many  phases  of  dan- 
ger to  their  moral  well  being. 

I.  Newsboys.  Small  boys  are  selling  papers  in  and  about  the  re- 
stricted district,  especially  on  the  South  Side.  On  Saturday  night, 
August  27th,  investigator  counted  twenty  newsboys  from  eleven  tp 
apparently  twenty  years  of  age  selling  papers  at  12:00  o’clock  and 
afterward.  While  the  majority  of  the  boys  were  over  seventeen,  quite 
a number  were  much  younger. 

Photographs  were  secured  of  four  of  these  newsboys.^  One  of  these 
boys  was  rescued  and  it  was  found  that  he  had  no  home  nor  anyone 
to  look  after  him. 


^Exhibits  A,  B,  C. 


242 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  ClilCAGO 


II.  Street  Vendors.  In  addition  to  the  newsboys  selling  papers  late 
at  night  in  the  vicinity  of  restricted  districts,  there  are  many  little 
boys  and  girls  engaged  in  selling  gum  near  disorderly  and  suspicious 
cafes  and  saloons  where  prostitutes  were  soliciting.  The  following  are 
examples : 

On  October  8th  between  7 : 30  and  8 : 30  P.  M.,  investigator  saw  six 
boys  on  Wabash  avenue  between  (X1143)  and  (X1144)  all  apparently 
under  the  age  of  fourteen.  These  boys  were  selling  gum.  At  10 : 45 
P.  M.  on  this  same  date,  the  same  boys  were  still  selling  gum  in  this 
vicinity.  In  addition,  three  boys,  two  of  whom  appeared  to  be  fifteen 
or  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  one  about  ten,  were  selling  morning 
papers.  At  11:  10  P.  M.  these  same  boys  were  in  this  vicinity. 

After  12 : 00  A.  M.  investigator  visited  the  22nd  street  restricted 
district  and  saw  several  small'boys,  both  white  and  colored,  selling 
Sunday  papers  on  22nd  street.  The  boys  were  not  older  than  fif- 
teen. 

10 : 50  P.  M.  Three  boys,  none  of  whom  appeared  to  be  over  fifteen, 
and  two  wearing  knickerbockers  came  out  of  a museum  of  anatomy 
at  (XI 150)  South  State  street. 

9:25  P.  M.  Saw  two  girls  of  about  eleven  in  company  of  small  boy 
about  eight  selling  gum  at  the  corner  of  (XI 157)  and  Harrison.  The 
(X1158)  Cafe. 

9:40  P.  M.  On  State  street  in  front  of  (X1163)  Museum,  Xo. 
(XI 164),  boy  of  about  fourteen  selling  gum  on  corner  of  Van  Buren 
and  (XI 165),  southwest  corner,  another  boy  of  fourteen  in  company 
with  three  older  boys. 

11:10  P.  M.  One  boy  on  22nd  street  near  (XI 170)  avenue.  Pid 
not  appear  to  be  selling  anything. 

October  26th.  Investigator  saw  several  boys  from  seven  to  fifteen 
years  of  age  selling  gum  and  papers  on  the  street,  and  in  the  rear 
rooms  of  saloons  on  the  West  Side.  The  following  are  some  of  the 
saloons  where  boys  of  this  age  were  seen:  The  (XI 171)  Cafe, 
(XI 172)  South  Halsted  street.  (XI 173)  saloon,  (XI 174)  South 
Halsted  street.  (X1175),  (X1176)  South  Halsted  street.  One  boy 
about  ten  was  heard  to  use  vulgar  and  obscene  language  to  a man 
who  spoke  to  him. 

III.  Messenger  Boys.  The  (XI 177)  Telegraph  Company  occupies 
an  office  at  (XI 178),  which  is  their  nearest  branch  office  to  one  of  the 
restricted  districts.  There  are  about  eight  messenger  boys  employed 
here,  ranging  from  fifteen  to  eighteen  years  of  age.  The  majority  of 
these  boys  are  colored.  These  messengers  are  called  upon  to  work  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  night.  As  part  of  their  duties  they  answer  calls 
from  prostitutes,  to  purchase  lunch  at  nearby  restaurants,  or  to  go  to 
drug  stores  to  purchase  drugs  and  various  articles.  In  this  way  the 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


243 


messenger  becomes  an  important  link  in  the  system  whereby  cocoaine 
and  various  other  drugs  used  by  habitues  are  secured  by  them.  A few 
instances  illustrating  this  fact  are  as  follows : 

(XI 179),  colored,  who  lives  at  (XI 180)  avenue,  messenger  No. 
(XI 181),  works  from  12:00  A.  M.  (midnight)  to  10:00  A.M.,  was 
called  about  September  1st  by  a prostitute  known  as  (XI 182)  who 
occupies  room  (XI 183)  of  the  (XI 184),  a house  of  prostitution 
located  at  (XI 185)  Dearborn  street,  and  was  sent  to  a drug  store 
owned  by  (XI 186),  (XI 187)  street,  where  he  purchased  a small  pack- 
age of  cocaine  hydrochloride,  which  was  wrapped  and  sealed  with 
sealing  wax.  He  paid  $5.78  for  this  package  and  was  given  $1.00  by 
prostitute  as  a tip  for  his  service.  Messenger  (XI 179)  repeated  this 
errand  about  the  middle  of  September  and  in  addition  purchased  a 
hypodermic  needle  for  said  (XI 189)  which  she  attempted  to  place 
upon  the  syringe  she  had.  The  needle  did  not  fit  and  he  was  then 
asked  to  return  same,  and  secure  another,  which  he  did,  the  needle 
fitting  this  time.  He  was  charged  $2.00  for  this  needle,  the  cost  of 
the  needle  to  the  druggist  being  nineteen  cents.  About  one  week 
after  this  incident  he  was  again  called  by  (XI 190)  and  was  sent  on  a 
different  errand,  being  told  she  had  discontinued  the  use  of  mes- 
senger boys  for  the  purchase  of  “dope”  as  she  remarked,  “They  talked 
too  much  and  cannot  be  trusted.”  She  further  said  that  she  was  now 
having  a newsboy,  who  sells  papers  at  the  immediate  corner,  purchase 
the  cocaine  for  her. 

Another  instance  which  occurred  during  the  month  of  October : 
This  same  messenger  was  called  by  madame  (XI 191)  who  lives  in 
an  apartment  building  at  the  corner  of  (XI 192)  and  (XI 193)  avenue, 
and  is  the  proprietor  of  a house  of  prosfitution  called  by  her  own 
name  and  sometimes  known  as  (X1194),  located  at  (X1195)  Dearborn 
street.  She  is  also  the  owner  of  other  property  in  the  restricted  dis- 
trict. Madame  (XI 191)  is  in  the  habit  of  calling  up  Mr.  (XI 197) 
and  ordering  a certain  quantity  of  cocaine,  who  in  turn  calls  this  mes- 
senger boy  and  sends  it  out  to  her  residence.  This  messenger  at 
one  time,  opened  one  of  the  packages,  and  suspecting  it  was  cocaine, 
sniffed  some  of  the  stuff  himself,  and  proved  conclusively  thereby 
that  it  actually  was  cocaine.  He  stated  that  he  had  done  this  a con- 
siderable number  of  times  since  and  seemed  to  have  derived  a good 
deal  of  pleasure  out  of  it. 

A man  whose  name  this  messenger  has  forgotten,  but  who  lives 
on  the  second  floor  of  the  building  at  the  corner  of  (XI  191a)  street 
and  (XI 198)  avenue,  sends  him  about  three  times  a month  to  a place 
owned  and  operated  by  a Chinaman  at  (XI 199)  South  Clark  street, 
where  he  secures  a package  of  opium,  and  for  which  he  pays  $4.00. 
Upon  returning  from  one  of  these  trips,  he  watched  this  man  open 
the  package  and  take  a quantity  of  the  stuff,  which  looked  very  much 
like  tar  to  him,  and  roll  and  heat  it.  At  this  point  the  messenger  was 
told  to  leave  the  room. 

This  messenger  boy  (X1200)  is  about  seventeen  years  old  and  has 


244 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


been  in  the  service  of  the  (X1201)  Company  at  this  particular  office 
for  over  three  years  and  makes  an  average  of  about  $10.00  per  week, 
including  tips.  Mentally  he  is  not  very  bright,  rather  undersized  for 
a boy  of  his  age,  and  at  present  afflicted  with  syphilis  of  three  months’ 
duration.^ 

(X1202),  No.  (X1203)  is  a little  boy  of  foreign  parentage.  He  is 
but  fifteen  years  old  and  lives  at  (X1204)  South  State  street.  He 
seems  to  take  considerable  pride  in  showing  his  knowledge  of  the 
underworld.  He  told  investigator  confidentially  that  he  has  often 
been  stopped  by  policemen,  as  well  as  ordinary  citizens,  who  inquire 
his  age,  which  he  invariably  says  is  eighteen.  Recently  he  has  been 
called  quite  often  to  (X1205),  house  of  prostitution,  (X1206)  Dear- 
born street,  where  a prostitute  whose  name  he  has  forgotten,  gives  him 
a box  with  a note  to  Mr.  (X1207).  The  box  when  filled  costs  $1.75. 
Upon  returning  to  the  woman  he  tells  her  that  he  paid  $2.50  for  the 
package,  thus  making  seventy-five  cents.  She  would  then  give  him 
a fifty  cent  tip.  On  one  of  his  trips  for  her  to  Mr.  (X1207),  he 
opened  the  note  and  read  it.  It  was  just  a requisition  for  cocaine. 
This  time  he  did  not  have  the  little  box  he  usually  took  to  the  drug 
store,  and  the  cocaine  was  delivered  to  him  in  a small  bottle.  He 
opened  the  bottle  and  placed  some  of  the  contents  upon  his  tongue. 
He  did  not  like  the  sensation,  and  so  never  repeated  it  He  has  a habit 
of  picking  up  cigarette  ends  that  have  been  discarded  and  smoking 
them. 

He  knows  the  name  of  nearly  every  prostitute  in  the  restricted 
district  and  can  recognize  them  at  sight.  Whenever  he  comes  into  a 
house  of  prostitution  the  girls  fondle  him  and  nearly  always  kiss  him. 
At  different  times  he  has  had  sores  on  his  lips.^ 

Joe  (X1209),  a high  school  boy,  was  employed  by  the  (X1210) 
company  in  the  downtown  district  during  Christmas  week  of  last  year. 
He  was  sent  to  deliver  a message  in  a house  of  prostitution  at  (X1211). 
The  girl  to  whom  he  delivered  the  message  offered  to  cohabit  with  him 
free  of  charge  as  a “Christmas  present,”  she  stating  that  it  was  the 
custom  to  do  that  for  messenger  boys  on  Christmas  day. 

Some  of  the  other  boys  whose  photographs  were  secured  by  the 
investigator  and  who  are  employed  by  the  (X1210)  Telegraph  Com- 
pany in  the  restricted  district  are  (X1213),  (X1214)  Dearborn  street, 
messenger  No.  (X1214)^,  colored,  (X1215),  white,  (X1216)  Went- 
worth avenue,  messenger  No.  (X1217),'^  and  messenger  No.  (X1218), 
whose  name  was  not  secured.^  These  boys  have  had  similar  experi- 
ences. These  boys  also  state  that  at  various  times  they  have  been  called 

^Exhibit  E. 

^Exhibit  D. 

3E.xbibit  F. 

^Exhibit  G. 

^Exhibit  H. 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


245 


to  houses  of  prostitution  to  perform  small  personal  services  for  pros- 
titutes. 

On  October  8th  at  11:40  P.  M.  messenger  No.  (X1221),  who  ap- 
peared to  be  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  was  sent  with  a letter  from 
the  (X1222)  office  at  (X1223)  and  (X1224)  to  a house  of  prosti- 
tution at  (X1225)  Dearborn  street.  At  12:20  A.  M.  the  messenger 
boy  was  seen  coming  out  of  this  house. 

IV.  Girls  Employed  in  Various  Occupations.  This  subject  has 
been  treated  in  full  elsewhere  in  this  report.  It  is  shown  there  that 
young  girls  who  work  in  factories,  department  stores,  offices,  res- 
taurants, hotels,  and  as  domestic  servants,  are  subject  to  many  dan- 
gers and  temptations.’- 

V.  Home  Conditions.  Bad  home  conditions  often  drive  the  daugh- 
ters of  the  family  into  prostitution  and  the  sons  into  lives  of  crime. 
In  such  cases  the  parents  are  indifferent  or  ignorant.  They  allow  their 
children  to  seek  improper  amusements  without  question  or  guidance. 
Many  cases  have  come  to  light  where  girls  have  gone  to  dances  or  the 
theater  and  remained  away  from  home  all  night,  telling  their  parents 
they  stayed  with  girl  friends.  Again,  they  are  not  required  to  come 
home  at  any  hour,  the  door  is  left  unlocked  and  the  wayward  children 
return  at  all  hours  of  the  night.  Many  families  in  the  congested  dis- 
tricts take  in  boarders  who  sleep  in  the  same  room  with  members  of 
the  family.  This  accustoms  children  to  the  presence  of  strangers  and 
it  is  no  wonder  that  they  lose  their  moral  sense  and  easily  accept  the 
improper  attentions  of  others. 

The  time  has  come  in  Chicago  when  better  housing  conditions  should 
be  studied  and  applied.  The  population  in  certain  quarters  of  the  city 
is  becoming  more  and  more  congested.  Aside  from  the  dangers  re- 
sulting from  insanitary  conditions,  bad  housing  breeds  vice  and  crime. 

The  Commission  commends  the  Association  of  Commerce  for  its 
recent  step  in  appointing  a committee  to  study  and  report  on  these  con- 
ditions. 

VI.  Rooming  Houses  and  Hotels.  One  of  the  chief  dangers  sur- 
rounding out  of  town  girls  and  boys  who  are  employed  in  the  city 
is  the  cheap  rooming  and  boarding  houses. 


^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  163. 


246 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


The  immoral  conditions  in  some  of  the  hotels  in  Chicago  form  one 
of  the  gravest  menaces  in  city  life  and  should  be  corrected.^ 

VII.  Protection  of  Immigrant  Girls.  One  of  the  most  serious 
problems  in  Chicago  is  how  to  prevent  immigrants,  especially  young 
girls  and  women,  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  unscrupulous  persons 
while  en  route  from  New  York  and  when  they  arrive  in  this  city.^ 

VIII.  Underfed  Children.  Many  of  the  delinquent  children  who 
pass  through  the  Juvenile  Court  are  underfed  and  have  no  home  care 
or  training.  They  sometimes  start  by  stealing  food  to  eat.  Out  of 
this  class  of  anemic  children  come  prostitutes  and  criminals.  The 
Commission  commends  the  Board  of  Education  in  its  attempts  to  meet 
this  situation  by  the  sale  of  food  at  cost  to  the  pupils.  For  the  safety 
of  the  well  fed  as  well  as  in  sympathy  with  the  underfed,  the  unfor- 
tunate should  be  cared  for  and  protected. 

IX.  Employment  Agencies.  Some  of  the  employment  agencies  in 
Chicago  have  been  more  or  less  careless  in  the  past  in  obeying  the  law 
against  the  sending  of  girls  as  servants  to  immoral  or  suspicious 
places.  The  conditions  in  this  respect  are  better  now  than  they  have 
been  for  some  time,  but  the  danger  still  lurks  in  these  places.^ 


AMUSEMENTS. 

The  affording  of  proper  amusements  for  young  people  in  the  City 
of  Chicago  is  one  of  th.e  chief  duties  of  the  Municipality  and  private 
individuals.  The  amusements  of  one’s  leisure  hours  has  more  to  do 
with  character  building  than  work  or  any  other  external  influence, 
because  amusement  is  a matter  of  choice.  It  should  therefore  be  pos- 
sible for  all  young  people  to  have  an  opportunity  for  proper  amuse- 
ment. The  investigations  of  dance  h&lls,  che'ap  theaters,  amusement 
parks  and  lake  steamers,  show  that  these  places  are  surrounded  by 
vicious  dangers  and  temptations  which  result  in  sending  many  young 
girls  into  lives  of  immorality,  professional,  semi-professional,  and  clan- 
destine.^ 

^See  Chapter  I,  “ Existing  Conditions,”  page  84. 

2See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply.”  page  227. 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  218. 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  163. 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


247 


I.  Cheap  Theaters.  The  five  and  ten  cent  theaters  which  have 
sprung  up  all  over  the  city  are  conducted  in  an  orderly  manner.  The 
entertainment  consisting  of  moving  pictures  is  generally  clean.  The 
vaudeville  acts  and  singing  are  very  often  coarse  and  inclined  to  be 
vulgar  but  not  immoral.  The  great  danger  seems  to  be  that  which 
always  besets  children  congregated  without  proper  supervision.  We 
believe  that  the  pictures  are  a menace  to  the  eyes,  which  will  be  shown 
later  in  life.  The  use  of  glass  screens  with  lighted  interior  of  theater 
would  undoubtedly  do  much  to  remove  moral  dangers  and  eye  strain. 

The  police  are  to  be  commended  for  their  strict  censorship  over  all 
films  exhibited  in  Chicago.  No  film  may  be  shown  without  the  signa- 
ture of  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police. 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  over  310  of  these  places  of  amusement 
in  Chicago.  Investigations  by  individuals  interested  in  the  welfare 
of  children  have  pointed  out  many  instances  where  children  have  been 
influenced  for  evil  by  the  conditions  surrounding  some  of  these  shows. 
Vicious  men  and  boys  mix  with  the  crowd  in  front  of  the  theaters  and 
take  liberties  with  very  young  girls. 

The  men  and  boys  outside  the  theaters  speak  to  the  young  girls 
and  invite  them  to  go  to  the  show. 

In  one  very  respectable  residential  district  three  very  serious  things 
have  happened  in  connection  with  these  theaters. 

A man  by  the  name  of  (X1230),  a proprietor  of  one  of  these  nickel 
theaters,  assaulted  fourteen  young  girls. 

Another  man,  seventy-six  years  of  age,  was  in  the  habit  of  enticing 
young  girls  to  go  to  the  show. 

At  another  theater  the  stage  manager  committed  a serious  offense 
with  several  little  boys. 

All  these  things  happened  in  the  afternoon. 

Many  liberties  are  taken  with  young  girls  within  the  theater  during 
the  performance  when  the  place  is  in  total  or  semi-darkness.  Boys 
and  men  slyly  embrace  the  girls  near  them  and  offer  certain  indignities. 

The  following  extracts  from  conferences  with  widely  known  workers 
on  the  influence  of  the  nickel  theater  in  child  protection  are  worthy 
of  note: 

“I  think  the  nickel  theaters  have  an  immoral  tendency.  While  I 
believe  some  are  instructive,  the  general  tendency  is  toward  im- 
morality. I know  a good  many  of  my  young  girls  have  told  me 


248 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


their  first  wrong  came  when  they  attended  nickel  theaters.  The 
people  who  conduct  them  may  be  morally  all  right  and  the  shows  in- 
structive to  the  class  of  people  who  go  there  oittimes,  but  they  are  not 
what  they  should  be.  That  applies  also  to  dance  halls  and  is  one  of 
the  great  sources  of  their  downfall. 

“I  think  the  nickel  theater  is  a recruiting  station  for  vice.  In  the 
first  place  from  the  type  of  pictures  often  shown  there;  in  the  second 
place  from  the  association.  Often  young  people  are  without  super- 
vision, and  it  is  an  easy  matter  for  a wrong  character  to  get  acquainted 
with  a girl.  Evil  minded  men  can  very  easily  make  an  acquaintance 
there,  when  it  wouldn’t  be  possible  under  other  circumstances. 

“Nickel  theaters  exert  an  evil  influence.  Parents  and  in  some  cases 
delinquent  children  testify  that  they  started  in  these  places.  They 
have  a tendency  to  keep  the  children  out  away  from  home  at  night 
very  late.” 

Another  immoral  feature  in  connection  with  the  cheap  theater  is  the 
amateur  nights  and  conditions  back  on  the  stage.  \\^orkers  among  de- 
linquent girls  testify  that  these  are  the  influences  that  first  started 
many  of  the  girls  into  immoral  lives : 

“Many  girls  from  12  years  of  age  on  have  a dramatic  tendency. 
They  hear  of  the  money  made  on  the  stage  and  they  become  anxious 
to  appear  before  the  public.  They  get  acquainted  with  an  usher  or 
some  of  the  people  on  the  stage ; they  will  do  anything  to  get  a chance, 
especially  on  some  amateur  night.” 

“The  immoral  influences  back  of  the  stage  are  very  bad.  I know 
of  one  case  where  two  girls  and  two  fellows  simply  shut  the  doors 
of  one  of  the  dressing  rooms,  and  stayed  there  for  a long  while,  and 
step  by  step  the  downfall  of  the  girls  was  brought  about.” 

“Many  theaters  have  little  dressing  rooms,  and  many  of  the  girls 
stay  there  over  night.  Many  girls  sell  themselves  in  order  to  get  on 
the  stage  before  the  public.  Then  they  find  they  can  make  easy  money. 
Their  one  idea  is  to  get 'before  the  public.  I think  it  is  one  of  the  worst 
things  ever  invented.” 

“Children  ought  not  to  be  permitted  on  the  stage.  The  law  against 
it  is  certainly  not  enforced.  We  have  delinquent  girls  12  to  16  years 
of  age,  who  have  been  on  the  stage  on  amateur  nights.  A little  girl 
just  left  us  who  had  been  on  the  stage  at  a five  cent  show  dancing. 
She  called  herself  a ‘professional.’  ” 

Chicago  has  a number  of  cheap  burlesque  theaters  which  have  a 
demoralizing  influence  upon  young  boys  and  men.  The  actresses  as 
a rule  in  these  cheap  shows  have  no  modesty.  The  men  connected 
with  the  entertainment  are  even  worse  in  their  actions,  and  suggestive 
songs  and  language  are  used  on  the  stage.  In  one  of  these  shows  on 
State  street  some  weeks  ago  a brazen  woman  gave  a shocking  ex- 
hibition of  an  obscene  and  suggestive  dance.  She  threw  garters  to  the 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


249 


audience  as  souvenirs  while  small  boys  in  the  gallery  hooted  and  made 
noisy  demonstrations  during  her  performance.  There  are  permanent 
shows  on  State  street,  almost  in  the  heart  of  the  business  district, 
where  an  announcer  inside  the  building  makes  a suggestive  speech  to 
entice  the  audience  to  descend  to  the  basement  where  dancers  from 
the  “Orient  will  stir  their  blood  and  make  them  feel  like  real  men.” 

These  cheap  and  vulgar  exhibitions  are  crowded  with  young  boys 
and  men  to  whom  they  cater. 

II.  Immoral  Literature  and  Pictures.  Probation  officers  connected 
with  the  Juvenile  Court  testify  that  a great  many  delinquent  girls 
have  been  influenced  for  evil  by  improper  literature  and  pictures. 
This  matter  is  often  printed  on  the  backs  of  the  business  cards  of 
saloon  keepers  and  invitations  to  dances.  Investigators  have  collected 
a quantity  of  these  cards.  In  addition,  printed  poems  describing  in 
a most  suggestive  and  obscene  manner  the  experience  of  lovers  have 
also  been  found  in  circulation  in  the  rear  rooms  of  saloons. 

A young  man  in  this  city  has  a collection  of  obscene  books  of  the 
vilest  type.  He  lends  these  books  to  his  friends.  Another  man  has 
a collection  of  vile  pictures  and  obscene  poetry  which  he  exhibits. 
Many  of  these  are  in  possession  of  the  Commission. 

The  bill  boards  still  present  advertisements  of  certain  shows  which 
could  well  be  censored. 

A boy  of  fifteen,  a pupil  in  the  high  school,  said  the  other  boys 
were  in  the  habit  of  passing  lewd  pictures  and  addresses  of  women  in 
the  restricted  districts  among  themselves.  One  day  this  boy  was 
preparing  to  visit  the  district  when  he  was  prevented  from  doing  so. 

Young  girls  have  been  seen  with  hand  written  copies  of  obscene 
poems  which  were  passed  from  one  to  another. 

There  are  also  vulgar  and  suggestive  advertisements  of  cigarettes 
and  cigars  in  circulation.  Some  of  these  cards  are  circulated  by  so- 
called  reputable  firms  and  are  in  possession  of  the  Commission. 

III.  Confectionary  and  Ice  Cream  Parlors.  A city  ordinance  de- 
clares that  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  owning,  conducting 
or  managing  candy  and  fruit  stores  or  ice  cream  parlors  to  allow  any 
male  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  or  any  female  under  the  age 
of  eighteen  to  remain  in  such  places  between  the  hours  of  10 : 00  P.  M. 
and  7 : 00  A.  M.  unless  accompanied  by  one  or  both  parents.  This  or- 


250 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


dinance  also  forbids  these  stores  to  maintain  curtains,  screens  or 
partitions  of  any  kind  that  will  serve  to  divide  such  places  into  small 
rooms  or,  compartments.  The  penalty  is  a fine  of  from  $5  to  $100 
for  each  offense.^  An  injunction  has  been  issued  restraining  the  en- 
forcement of  this  ordinance.  The  Commission  feels  that  if  this  in- 
junction is  made  permanent  it  will  work  a great  injustice  to  many  help- 
less and  unprotected  children. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  conditions  surrounding  many  of  these  candy 
and  fruit  stores  and  ice  cream  parlors  in  certain  districts  of  the  city 
are  particularly  dangerous  to  young  boys  and  girls.  In  fact  the  court 
records  show  that  a large  number  of  young  girls  have  been  ruined  in 
these  places. 

The  following  typical  instances  came  under  the  observation  of  in- 
vestigators of  the  Commission  during  its  study: 

October  10th.  (X1230),  confectionary  and  ice  cream  soda  parlor, 

(X1231)  street.  Two  girls  and  two  boys  were  seen  in  this  place  after 
10:00  P.  M.  The  girls  appeared  to  be  from  fifteen  to  sixteen  years 
of  age,  the  boys  from  seventeen  to  twenty.  There  was  a Japanese 
screen  in  the  room,  which  could  be  used  to  put  around  tables.  One 
of  the  boys  took  hold  of  the  breast  of  one  of  the  girls  and  took  other 
liberties. 

October  10th.  (X1232)  Kitchen.  Confectionary  and  ice  cream 

parlor;  (X1233)  street.  One  girl  and  four  boys  at  this  place  after 
10 : 00  P.  M.  The  girl  appeared  to  be  sixteen  years  of  age ; the  boys 
from  twelve  to  seventeen.  A screen  was  in  the  room,  which  could 
be  used  to  go  around  the  tables.  There  was  a room  in  the  rear  which 
opened  off  from  the  ice  cream  parlor. 

October  10th.  (X1234),  (X1235)  street.  Ice  cream  soda  and 

confectionary.  vSeveral  girls  and  boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at 
10:  35  P.  M.  Two  of  the  girls  appeared  to  be  16,  and  3,  18  years  of 
age ; the  boys  14  to  20.  One  of  the  younger  boys  asked  a girl  to 
hurry  up,  and  they  would  go  to  the  hallway  where  they  could  talk  by 
themselves. 

October  10th.  Cigars,  candy,  soda  and  drugs.  (X1236)  and 
(X1237).  One  girl  and  four  boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  10:45 
P.  M.  The  girl  appeared  to  be  16,  and  the  boys  from  15  to  18  years 
of  age.  The  girl  was  accompanied  by  one  of  the  boys,  and  the  other 
boys  were  making  fun  of  him  for  going  around  with  a “chicken.” 

October  10th.  (X1238)  store,  (X1239)  avenue.  Two  girls  and 

four  boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  10 : 50  P.  M.  The  girls  ap- 
peared to  be  from  15  to  17  and  the  boys  from  15  to  19  years  of  age. 
There  are  curtains  in  this  place,  which  can  be  arranged  around  the 


^Appendix  XVII. 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


251 


tables.  One  of  the  boys  was  seen  conducting  himself  in  an  indecent 
manner  with  one  of  the  girls.  Their  names  were  May  and  Fred. 

October  10th.  (X1240)  ; ice  cream  and  candy.  (X1241)  avenue. 

Two  girls  and  one  boy  were  seen  in  this  place  at  11:30  P.  M.  The 
girls  appeared  to  be  13  to  16  years  of  age,  and  the  boy  17. 

October  11th.  (X1242),  confectionary  and  ice  cream  parlor; 

(X1243)  street.  Eleven  girls  and  9 boys  were  here  at  11:20  P.  M. 
The  youngest  of  the  girls  appeared  to  be  15  and  the  youngest  boy  16. 
Two  girls  about  16  were  flirting  with  two  boys,  and  when  the  boys 
left  the  girls  followed  them.  One  of  the  girls  flirted  with  the  in- 
vestigator and  he  sat  down  at  the  table  with  her.  She  said  she  was 
17  years  of  age  and  “hung  out”  most  of  the  time  in  (X1244)  saloon. 
She  further  stated  that  her  name  was  Georgia  (X1245),  and  came 
from  the  upper  peninsula  of  Michigan.  She  is  a prostitute  and  takes 
men  to  the  (X1246)  hotel,  (X1247)  street. 

October  11th.  Ice  cream  parlor,  (X1248)  South  (X1249)  street. 
Eight  girls  and  5 boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  10 : SO  P.  M.  The 
youngest  of  the  girls  appeared  to  be  about  16  and  the  youngest  boy  17. 
Three  girls  who  appeared  to  be  16  were  acting  very  giddy,  and  one 
of  the  boys  told  the  investigator  that  they  were  “to  be  had.” 

October  13th.  (X1250),  drug  store  and  ice  cream  parlor,  (X1220) 

; street.  Five  girls  and  3 boys  were  in  this  place  at  11:35  P.  M. ; the 
youngest  of  the  girls  appeared  to  be  11,  and  the  youngest  boy  19  years 
j of  age. 

October  13th.  Ice  cream  parlor,  (X1251)  street.  Four  girls  and 
I 6 boys  were  in  this  place  at  10 : 35  P.  M.  The  youngest  of  the  girls 
appeared  to  be  15,  and  the  youngest  boy  18  years  of  age.  There 
; was  a curtain  in  the  room,  which  could  be  arranged  around  the  ta- 
: bles;  also  a door  to  rooms  in  the  rear.  One  of  the  girls  was  alone, 
and  she  afterwards  went  out  on  the  street  and  met  a fellow  on  the 
; corner,  and  walked  away  with  him. 

|i  October  13th.  Ice  cream  parlor.  (X1257)  street.  Three  girls 
I*  and  4 boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  1 1 : 10  P.  M.  The  youngest  of 

I I the  girls  appeared  to  be  18  and  the  youngest  boy  19  years  of  age. 
There  was  a screen  around  one  of  the  tables  in  the  room. 

October  13th.  Ice  cream  parlor;  (X1258)  street.  Three  girls 
and  one  boy  were  seen  in  this  place  at  11 : 20  P.  M.  The  youngest  of 
i the  girls  appeared  to  be  15  and  the  boy  about  17  years  of  age. 

October  13th.  Ice  cream  parlor,  (XI 259)  street.  Five  girls  and 
6 boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  11:30  P.  M.  The  youngest  of  the 
f|  girls  appeared  to  be  16  and  the  youngest  boy  18  years  of  age.  There 
were  booths  and  stalls  arranged  on  both  sides  of  the  room,  where 
, persons  could  be  by  themselves.  There  was  a door  leading  to  rooms 
I in  the  rear. 

October  14th.  Ice  cream  parlor;  (X1260)  street.  Seven  girls  and 
8 boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  11:45  P.  M.  The  youngest  of  the 
J girls  appeared  to  be  16,  the  youngest  boy  18.  There  was  a room 


252 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


enclosed  in  the  rear  right  hand  corner.  The  room  also  contained 
screens  to  put  around  the  tables. 

October  14th.  Ice  cream  parlor,  (X1261)  street.  Five  girls  and  3 
boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  11:05  P.  M.  The  youngest  of  the 
girls  appeared  to  be  16  and  the  youngest  boy  17  years  of  age.  There 
are  screens  in  the  room  that  can  be  placed  around  tables.  There  is  a 
door  leading  to  rooms  in  the  rear.  An  Italian  clerk  was  joking  with  a 
girl  called  Frances  about  loving  another  fellow,  and  she  said,  “I  know 

1 love  him.” 

October  14th.  Ice  cream  parlor.  (X1262)  street.  Four  girls  and 

2 boys  were  seen  in  this  place  at  10 : 25  P.  M.  The  younge.st  of  the 
girls  appeared  to  be  16  and  the  younger  boy  18  years  of  age.  There 
are  partitions  in  the  rear  of  this  room. 

IV.  Amusement  Parks.  Social  workers  who  have  paid  particular 
attention  to  conditions  in  amusement  parks  declare  that  incidents  have 
come  to  their  notice  showing  a laxity  of  supervision  and  of  the 
moral  dangers  surrounding  young  girls  who  frequent  these  places  for 
amusement.^ 

V.  Public  Parks.  No  definite  investigation  was  made  of  the 
conditions  in  public  parks  by  the  Commission.  Other  organizations, 
however,  have  reported  on  the  same.  These  investigations  show  that 
there  are  evil  influences  in  such  places.  During  the  summer  time  young 
girls  frequent  these  places  and  sit  around  on  the  grass  with  boys,  or  go 
with  them  into  the  dark  corners  and  among  the  shrubbery  at  night. 

Garfield,  Douglas  and  Lincoln  parks  are  mentioned  where  these 
conditions  have  been  observed. 

The  Commission  recommends  a better  lighting  of  the  parks;  the 
removal  of  seats  from  the  deep  shadows  and  better  policing.  Search- 
lights might  be  of  assistance  to  the  proper  policing  of  such  spots  as  are 
not  covered  by  arc  lights. 

VI.  Lake  Steamers.  Investigations  of  conditions  on  the  lake 
steamers  which  cater  to  holiday  and  excursion  crowds  show  that 
these  boats  afford  many  opportunities  for  immoral  practices. 

These  boats  then  must  be  considered  as  affording  dangers  to  young 
people  which  must  be  vigorously  guarded  against.- 


iSee  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  213. 
2See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  215. 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


253 


EDUCATIONAL  AND  PREVENTIVE  MEASURES.  . 

There  is  a difference  of  opinion  whether  children  below  the  age  of 
puberty  should  be  taught  sex  hygiene  in  schools.  That  they  should 
be  taught  this  subject  is  being  widely  discussed.  Both  sides  present 
argument  for  and  against.  At  this  period  of  experiment  in  the  public 
or  semi-public  education  of  sex-hygiene  to  children,  under  fourteen 
or  fifteen  years  of  age,  the  Commission  is  convinced  the  movement  is  so 
early  in  its  development  that  it  furnishes  little  absolute  proof  of  its 
value  and  therefore  it  would  hesitate  to  make  recommendation.  It  is 
the  bounden  duty  as  well  as  the  privilege  of  fathers  and  mothers,  how- 
ever, to  teach  their  young  children  such  facts  as  are  necessary  to 
guard  them  from  the  dangers  of  immoral  lives.  But  this  is  pre- 
eminently the  work  for  parents  and  not  for  schools  or  for  public 
societies.  Beyond  the  age  of  puberty  or  in  colleges  or  universities  this 
may  be  done  with  safety  and  probably  good  results  if  done  with  care 
and  from  the  viewpoint  of  morals,  as  well  as  the  care  of  the  physical 
body. 

There  are  parents,  unfortunately,  who  do  not  feel  capable  or  willing 
to  undertake  to  teach  children  the  knowledge  of  sex  hygiene.  It  is 
not  an  easy  duty  in  many  instances,  but  a very  necessary  one.  When 
such  is  the  case  a father  has  recourse  to  a very  excellent  teacher  for 
the  son,  the  family  physician.  In  the  case  of  the  mother,  her  ma- 
ternal instinct  will  suggest  how  to  protect  her  daughter. 

Where  children  have  no  parents  the  Commission  feels  that  these 
children  should  be  taught  necessary  knowledge  by  those  who  are  their 
moral  guardians.  If  the  child  be  in  an  institution  then  by  those  in 
charge  of  the  same;  if  wards  of  the  court,  then  by  probation  officers 
of  the  same  sex;  and  for  those  in  school  without  advisers,  by  the 
teachers  of  the  school  in  private  interviews. 

It  is  most  desirable  that  college  students  of  both  sexes  should  re- 
I ceive  instruction  in  sex  hygiene.  The  greatest  emphasis  should  be 
I placed  upon  their  responsibility  in  protecting  future  generations  from 
I hereditary  immoral  tendencies  and  physical  degeneration. 

I Books  and  other  literature  on  the  subject  are  limited  and  some 
j of  them  unfortunate,  or  based  upon  error  or  misvalued  evidence. 

, Consequently,  great  care  should  be  used  in  selecting  or  advising  on 
that  subject. 


254 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


The  Commission  presents  the  following  brief  history  of  the  pres- 
ent educational  movement,  both  in  this  country  and  abroad,  for  the 
education  and  protection  of  young  people  of  both  sexes. 

The  essential  feature  of  this  educational  effort  is  that  its  teach- 
ing was  planned  to  be,  and  has  been  moral  and  helpful  as  well  as  hy- 
gienic and  scientific.  In  other  words,  it  has  not  endeavored  to  delve 
into  all  the  details  of  vice,  and  spread  before  the  public  all  the  re- 
pulsiveness and  depravity  of  people  who  lead  lives  of  vice,  but  the 
purpose  has  been  to  give  young  men  such  information  as  will  be 
helpful  to  them  in  controlling  their  own  passion  or  to  assist  them  in 
avoiding  the  vice  and  depravity  into  which  their  uncontrolled  emo-  ! 

tional  nature  may  lead  them.  I 

i 

While  this  educational  work  has  pointed  out  the  consequences  of  [ 
vice,  and  the  causes  which  lead  many  into  immorality,  it  has  en-  ' 
deavored  to  place  the  emphasis  upon  those  things  which  are  normal  ! 
and  right.  In  addition  this  educational  program  includes  instructions  ^ 
regarding  things  which  make  for  the  health  and  welfare  of  the  family,  , 
and  to  a proper  regard  for  the  sense  of  honor  which  is  a part  of  the 
lives  of  normal  men  and  women. 

I 

In  matters  of  sexes,  as  in  other  problems  of  life,  knowledge  without  ij 
honor  is  a power  without  a guide.  In  much  of  the  best  recent  liter-  i 
ature,  the  question  of  honor  is  taken  for  granted  rather  than  ex-  : 
pressed.  Nevertheless,  the  basic  principle  is  justice  to  others  as  well  J 
as  avoidance  of  injury  to  one’s  self.  ! 

For  nearly  one  hundred  years  European  cities  have  been  trying  to  i 
reduce  the  volume  of  venereal  disease  by  medical  and  sanitary  ef-  | 
forts.  Disease,  however,  has  persisted  unchecked,  statistics  often  j 
showing  an  increase  in  spite  of  all  the  sanitary  efforts  available.  Fi- 
nally, in  1899,  an  International  Congress  was  called  to  meet  at  Brus-  , 
sels,  and  discuss  every  known  means  of  reducing  this  constantly 
growing  peril.  Many  people  expected  great  results  from  a sanitary  p 
point  of  view  from  this  conference.  It  developed,  however,  that  even  it 
the  supporters  of  sanitary  control  of  vice  could  not  give  as  fa-  : 
vorable  a report  as  they  wished  to,  and  freely  admitted  they  were  i 
disappointed  with  the  results  of  their  efforts. 

This  International  Council  after  discussing  the  matter  for  several  i i 
days,  finally  disbanded,  with  the  recommendation  they  report  no 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


255 


definite  conclusions  to  their  respective  governments,  and  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  this  subject  would  be  studied  further,  and  a second 
council  meet  in  1902. 

The  results  of  the  second  council  were  similar  to  those  of  the  first, 
except  that  it  was  finally  decided  that  the  only  hope  for  reducing 
present  distressing  conditions  was  to  organize  an  educational  effort 
along  both  sanitary  and  moral  lines. 

The  deliberations  of  this  Congress  crystallized  into  the  conviction 
that  the  preventive  measures  hitherto  employed  were  insufficient  and 
ineffective.  It  was  decided  also  that  the  whole  question  must  be 
studied  anew,  from  a broader  standpoint,  with  special  reference  to 
the  social  conditions  involved  in  the  causation  of  these  diseases.  It 
was  recognized  that  vice  was  a voluntary  evil,  and  that  moral,  as  well 
as  medical  issues  were  involved. 

One  of  the  American  representatives  to  this  Congress  was  author- 
ized by  the  society  to  organize  in  America,  Societies  of  Sanitary  and 
Moral  Propylaxis. 

After  four  years  of  hard  work,  the  American  Society  of  Sanitary 
and  Moral  Prophylaxis  in  New  York  City  was  organized  in  Feb- 
ruary of  1905.  The  society  was  composed  of  some  of  the  most  prom- 
inent members  of  the  medical  profession,  and  others  interested  in 
public  welfare.  Their  plan  of  work  was  soon  approved  by  people 
in  other  communities  and  similar  societies  were  organized  in  Phila- 
delphia, in  Chicago  and  elsewhere.  The  Chicago  Society  bearing  the 
name  of  “The  Chicago  Society  of  Social  Hygiene,”  was  organized  in 
the  spring  of  1906.  Since  then  some  twelve  or  fifteen  similar  city  or 
state  organizations  have  sprung  up  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
. States,  and  one  in  Mexico.  These  have  all  been  composed  of  medical 
people  and  others,  and  they  have  had  the  benefit  of  some  of  the  best 
medical  advice  in  their  communities.  As  a consequence,  the  general 
public  has  come  to  realize  as  never  before  the  amount  of  disease  and 
physical  suffering  caused  by  vice,  and  the  benefits  to  be  derived  by  a 
possible  freedom  from  vice  in  a community.  Up  to  the  present  time 
most  of  the  education  has  been  directed  towards  young  men  and  their 
parents,  or  towards  assisting  Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  college  authorities  in 
giving  young  men  such  information  as  will  enable  them  to  know  the 
dangers  incident  to  the  association  with  vice. 


256 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


In  addition  to  the  above,  an  effort  has  been  made  by  women’s 
clubs  to  educate  certain  groups  of  women  regarding  such  facts  as 
are  necessary  to  enable  them  to  guide  and  protect  their  own  children 
or  children  in  their  charge.  This  work  has  been  conducted  largely 
by  women  physicians.  The  necessity  for  such  work,  and  the  value 
of  the  work  given,  has  been  very  much  appreciated  by  a large  number 
of  women  in  several  of  the  cities  of  the  United  States. 

The  first  society  to  undertake  the  teaching  of  Social  Hygiene  to 
adults  in  Chicago  was  the  Chicago  Society  of  Social  Hygiene,  teach- 
ing the  facts  from  a hygienic  and  medical  point  of  view,  and  endeav- 
oring mostly  to  reach  young  men.  Second,  the  Chicago  Woman’s 
Club,  teaching  from  the  standpoint  of  a proper  protection  of  women 
and  children.  Third,  the  Illinois  Vigilance  Association,  organized 
under  the  auspices  of  a union  meeting  of  ministers’  associations. 

The  work  of  teaching  young  men  has  perhaps  progressed  farther 
and  accomplished  more  than  among  the  people  of  any  other  class, 
outside  of  those  especially  interested  in  the  public  welfare.  This 
teaching  has  been  accomplished  through  lectures  delivered  to  colleges 
and  Y.  M.  C.  A.’s,  usually  by  physicians.  For  the  past  four  years 
one  physician  delivered  a lecture  on  reproduction  and  sexual  hygiene 
at  most  of  the  large  colleges  in  the  Middle  West  and  many  of  the 
Y.  M.  C.  A.’s  in  the  larger  cities  from  Denver  to  New  York.  In  Indi- 
ana, the  State  Board  of  Health  has  taken  up  the  work,  and  the  Chair- 
man of  the  Board  or  one  of  his  assistants  goes  nearly  every  Sunday 
and  occasionally  during  the  week,  to  talk  before  Men’s  Clubs  in 
churches  and  social  clubs,  or  other  organizations. 

The  Chicago  Society  of  Hygiene  and  the  Spokane  Society  of  Social 
and  Moral  Hygiene  have  issued  four  leaflets  entitled,  “Sexual  Hy- 
giene for  Young  Men,”  “Family  Protection,”  “Community  Protec- 
tion,” and  “Comments  on  the  Aim  and  the  Efforts  of  the  Society  of 
Social  Hygiene,”  the  latter  being  principally  a compilation  of  letters 
telling  of  the  value  and  usefulness  of  the  literature  which  they  have 
issued. 

The  education  of  the  rising  generation  is  of  the  utmost  importance, 
and  this  education  should  reach  as  many  as  possible,  but  in  order  to 
have  the  movement  permanently  established  it  is  more  important  that 
the  method  should  be  right  rather  than  energetic.  In  other  words, 


CHILD  PROTECTION  AND  EDUCATION 


257 


the  quality  of  the  work  is  of  more  importance  than  the  quantity,  al- 
though a large  quantity  is  urgently  needed  and  should  be  supplied  as 
rapidly  as  skill  and  care  can  manage. 

The  following  extracts  are  from  statements  made  by  representa- 
itive  workers  among  children  selected  from  the  testimony  of  twenty-six 
who  appeared  with  others  in  conference  with  the  Commission.  They 
represent  fairly  the  general  opinion  of  the  twenty-six  who  discussed  the 
subject: 


I ‘T  am  very  far  from  being  committed  broadly  to  the  idea  of 
[ teaching  social  hygiene  in  the  public  schools.  It  depends  en- 

Itirely  upon  the  age  of  the  child  and  in  what  grade  it  is  to  be 
taught.  It  is  a matter  of  the  greatest  difficulty  to  give  this  in- 
struction properly,  and  I am  very  much  in  doubt  whether  it  would 
accomplish  much  good.” 

“When  you  consider  how  few  parents  have  the  moral  or  mental 
equipment  to  discuss  this  question  with  their  children  I some- 
times think  it  is  better  to  leave  them  without  definite  instruction 
from  such  sources.” 


“The  time  has  come  when  the  teachers  should  be  instructed 
to  teach  the  children.  This  does  not  mean  that  they  must  tell 
them  everything  about  the  physiology  of  the  human  body,  but  it 
does  mean  they  must  change  their  attitude  about  this  matter,  and 
instead  of  talking  about  the  stork,  talk  plainly;  otherwise,  they 
will  be  on  the  wrong  track.  I am  quite  in  sympathy  with  the 
movement  to  teach  social  hygiene  in  the  public  schools.  This 
should  be  done  by  changing  the  trend  of  thought,  and  the  form 
^ of  expression,  and  gradually  by  introducing  actual  physiology 
study.  The  peculiar  thing  about  the  public  school  teaching  of 
physiology  as  it  is  now  taught  is  that  it  is  a physiology  of  ani- 
mals and  does  not  touch  the  physiology  of  man,  as  related  to  re- 
production.” 


“It  depends  a good  deal  upon  the  age  of  the  children,  as  to 
whether  or  not  they  should  be  taught  physiology  in  the  public 
schools.  Some  children  are  capable  of  understanding  instruc- 
tion in  that  science  at  a much  earlier  period  than  others.  You 
will  find  some  girls  ten  years  of  age  who  understand  more  about 
the  science  of  life  and  evil  than  others  at  fifteen.  It  would  be 
hard  to  suggest  any  age  at  which  it  would  be  proper  to  com- 
mence teaching.  I believe  that  parents  or  the  guardians  of  chil- 
dren should  teach  these  delicate  subjects.  It  is  my  conviction,  gen- 
erally speaking,  that  the  longer  children  are  kept  innocent  the 
better  calculated  it  is  to  promote  goodness.” 


258 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


“I  am  in  favor  of  teaching  physiology  to  school  children,  but  I 
I would  not  wish  to  give  an  opinion  regarding  the  age  when  1 
this  subject  should  be  taught.  I feel  sure  that  when  they  reach  I 
puberty  they  ought  to  know.  This  subject  should  be  imparted  j 
to  the  children  through  the  schools,  because  we  have  so  large  a 
number  of  parents  who  will  not  do  it.  I know  personally  of  • 
girls  who  have  been  allowed  to  come  to  the  marriage  age  with- 
out  a word  of  instruction;  their  mothers  say  they  could  not  talk  i 
on  the  subject  with  their  daughters.  I do  not  believe  innocence  i 
and  ignorance  go  hand  in  hand.  I think  a girl  brought  up  on  a i 
farm  would  see  the  natural  processes;  she  knows  the  secrets  of 
sex  without  being  taught.  She  is  just  as  innocent  as  the  city 
girl  who  has  never  seen  anything.  The  mothers  of  Italian  girls  i 
who  marry  at  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  of  age  have  been  per-  , 
fectly  frank  with  them,  yet  these  girls  are  perfectly  innocent. 

I am  in  sympathy  with  the  movement  to  teach  social  hygiene  ' 
with  reference  to  morals  in  the  public  schools.”  j 

/ 

The  Commission,  therefore,  heartily  recommends  the  further  study  i 
into  proper  and  effectual  methods  of  teaching  sex  hygiene  to  young  t 
people  beyond  the  age  of  puberty,  especially  to  young  men.  For  j 
other  recommendations  see  page  63. 


Chapter  VI. 


Rescue  and  Reform. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM. 

' The  Social  Evil  presents  one  of  the  sombre  phases  of  modern  life. 
Perhaps  there  is  no  problem  more  complex  and  baffling  within  the 
range  of  present  day  experience.  The  evils  of  which  it  is  the  cause 
and  the  perils  with  which  it  besets  the  lives  of  even  the  purest  and 
least  suspecting  members  of  the  social  order  afford  ample  justifica- 
tion for  the  most  earnest  efforts  to  abate  and  conquer  it. 

In  the  discussion  of  the  means  of  rescue  and  reform,  it  is  natural 
that  emphasis  should  be  placed  upon  institutions  and  agencies  which 
have  proved  of  value  or  promised  relief.  Yet  it  must  be  remembered 
that  the  most  serious  evils  of  this  traffic  in  virtue  are  not  physical 
but  moral,  and  that  the  most  effective  means  of  counteracting  them 
must  ever  be  in  the  elevation  of  the  moral  sentiment  of  the  com- 
tnunity  to  a sense  of  individual  responsibility  for  upright  conduct  in 
, behalf  of  decency  and  virtue. 

i The  safety  of  the  city  as  of  the  nation,  lies  in  the  intelligence, 
1 norality  and  ethical  sensitiveness  of  the  people.  And  the  agencies, 
I iducational,  moral  and  religious,  which  inspire  and  promote  these 

i'  qualities  are  the  truest  safeguards. 

With  a sure  and  unfailing  emphasis  upon  these  primary  factors  in 
J he  problem  it  is  appropriate  that  attention  be  given  to  the  specific 
I broblems  connected  with  the  work  of  rescue  and  reform. 

t A.  Social  changes.  The  community  is  undergoing  great  economic 
t ocial  and  political  changes  which  affect  the  status  of  respectable 
ivomen.  They  are  evidenced  by: 

jl  I.  The  disproportionate  increase  in  the  number  of  wage  earning 
I /omen  as  compared  with  wage  earning  men,  and  with  female  popu- 
L ition.  The  twelfth  census  (1900)  reports  that  6,000,000  women 
I /ere  then  wage  earners  outside  their  homes,  and  it  is  anticipated  that 
I le  thirteenth  census  (1910)  will  find  9,000,000  women  engaged  in 
I 'age  earning  pursuits.  Between  1890-1900  gainfully  employed  women 
I icreased  more  rapidly  than  gainfully  employed  men  in  number, 
I .ad  more  rapidly  than  the  female  population. 


261 


262 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


II.  The  disintegration  of  the  older  forms  of  family  life  and 
multiplication  of  divorces  obtained  on  the  motion  of  the  wife:  Dur- 
ing the  past  twenty  years  954,000  divorces  have  been  granted  in  the 
United  States;  two-thirds  at  the  request  of  women  who  in  most 
cases  have  assumed  the  burden  of  supporting  themselves,  and  often  of 
supporting  their  children. 

III.  The  gradual  admission  of  women  to  political  privileges : For 
all  constitutional  governments  tend  to  give  at  least  the  municipal 
franchise  to  women.  While  these  changes  are  not  of  such  a char- 
acter as  to  promise  the  overthrow  of  the  institution  of  prostitu- 
tion, they  throw  a new  light  on  the  causes  which  lead  women  intc 
immoral  and  disreputable  lives,  and  must  be  considered  in  framing 
any  program  for  the  rescue  and  reform  of  women  who  have  become 
disreputable.  It  is  of.  the  essence  of  the  immoral  act  that  the  twc 
sexes  are  involved.  The  question  of  the  immoral  man  is,  however 
left  to  other  reports^  while  this  discussion  is  devoted  exclusively  t(  ^ 
the  girl,  semi-delinquent  or  delinquent,  and  the  woman,  semi-profes  j| 


sional  or  professional. 


{ 


B.  Reasons  for  Choice  of  Immoral  Life  by  Women.  One  resul 
of  these  changes  in  the  status  of  respectable  women  is  a gradual  al , 
teration  in  the  attitude  of  respectable  women  towards  their  disrep 
utable  sisters,  and  the  recognition  of  the  fact  that  the  position  of  th 
disreputable  woman  can  be  readily  understood  only  when  the  effecj 
of  these  changes  upon  the  tastes,  the  possibilities,  the  opportunitie  {j 
of  reputable  women  is  considered.  The  problem  then  of  rescue  an 
reform  of  these  women  who  have  supplied  the  demand  for  purpose] 
of  prostitution  has  now  been  recognized  as  one  belonging  to  the  wholi 
communit)q  to  be  solved  only  with  the  help  of  both  decent  men  an  i| 
women,  and  as  one  so  complicated  that  the  formulation  of  adequai  i 
recommendations  is  extremely  difficult. 

A brief  discussion  of  the  apparent  causes  for  the  selection  of  th  i 
life  by  women  is  essential  to  a discussion  of  their  subsequent  reset  • 
from  it.  A removal  of  these  causes  would  act  in  a preventive  ma  t 
ner.  Until  they  are  removed  subsequent  and  remedial  treatment  > j 
some  kind  will  remain  necessary.  The  difficulties  which  surroui.  i 
the  various  efforts  to  care  for  and  reform  girls  and  prostitutes  a:  i 


^See  Chapter  V,  “Child  Protection  and  Education,”  page  240. 


A 


t 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


263 


largely  inherent  in  social  life  and  industrial  conditions.  Social  insti- 
tutions and  public  opinion  lag  behind  industrial  demands,  and  of  no 
conditions  is  this  more  true  than  of  those  under  which  women  and  girls 
offer  themselves  in  the  labor  market ; and  it  is  true  not  only  of  condi- 
tions in  Chicago  but  in  the  entire  United  States,  in  England,  and  on 
the  Continent. 

In  public  opinion,  also,  women  prostitutes  have  been  in  the  past  all 
grouped  together;  young  and  old,  confirmed  prostitutes  and  girls  who 
have  made  but  their  first  misstep,  were  all  placed  in  one  class,  as  im- 
pelled into  the  life  by  their  own  evil  inclinations. 

This  naive  explanation  to  account  for  such  a prevalent  institution 
still  survives  among  those  whose  experience  of  life  has  been  so  lim- 
ited as  to  allow  them  no  conception  of  the  subtle  and  complicated 
social  conditions  which  produce  the  social  evil. 

In  the  public  conscience  neither  was  any  discrimination  made  be- 
tween the  various  degrees  of  responsibility  for  evil-doing,  nor  any 
effort  exerted  in  economic  or  social  directions  to  lessen  the  supply, 
and  return  the  victims  to  society,  which  has  never  in  law  or  educa- 
tion sufficiently  recognized  the  strength  and  force  of  the  sex  instinct. 
This  instinct  has  been  ignored  in  educational  methods,  and  society 
has  sought  to  correct  its  abuses  by  punishing  the  woman,  and  by  ex- 
acting from  her  absolute  chastity  under  pain  of  social  death.  Thus 
the  evil,  nourished  by  silence,  unchecked  by  wise  enlightenment,  has 
grown  apace.  The  social  conscience,  however,  is  now  awakening,  and 
recognizes  that  the  causes  which  produce  the  social  evil,  which  in 
truth  is  the  most  unsocial  of  all  evils,  are  as  varied  as  the  individuals 
who  supply  the  demand. 

Among  these  causes  a few  may  be  enumerated.  The  economic 
stress  of  industrial  life  on  unskilled  workers,  with  its  enfeebling  in- 
fluence on  the  will  power;  the  large  number  of  seasonal  trades  in 
which  women  are  especially  engaged ; unhappy  homes ; careless  and 
ignorant  parents ; broken  promises ; love  of  ease  and  luxury ; the 
craving  for  excitement  and  change ; lack  of  both  ethical  teaching  and 
religious  conviction ; ignorance  of  hygiene ; all  these  are  more  or  less 
contributing  causes.  But  above  all  is  the  fact  that  “commercialized 
vice”  is  now  a business  in  which  but  a small  part  of  the  profits  are 
paid  to  the  women,  who  are  exploited  for  the  benefit  of  certain  groups 


264 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


of  men ; and  parallel  with  this  is  the  further  fact  that  certain  classes 
of  women  have  discovered  that  luxuries  and  ease  come  to  them  when 
they  sell  their  bodies,  rather  than  the  work  of  their  hands, — “It  is  the 
easiest  way.” 

I.  Unfavorable  Home  Conditions.  First  among  these  causes 
should  be  named  unfavorable  home  conditions  and  family  relation- 
ships. Where  the  parents  are  drunken,  immoral,  degraded,  the  home 
crowded  and  filthy,  and  ihe  child  neglected  and  abused,  there  is  little 
hope  of  the  girl  escaping  sex-violation.  Such  consequences  are  illus- 
trated by  the  experience  of  the  girls  now  in  the  State  Home  for  Girls 
at  Geneva. 

Among  168  girls  in  that  institution  at  one  time  (Summer  1908) 
30  were  the  daughters  of  drunken  fathers,  8 had  drunken  mothers, 
20  had  fathers  of  vicious  habits,  16  were  children  of  immoral  or 
vicious  mothers.  In  the  families  of  12  there  were  others  of  criminal 
or  vicious  habits;  24  were  children  of  fathers  who  had  deserted  the 
family;  11  were  illegitimate,  and  10  were  victims  of  gross  cruelty. 
Twenty-nine  of  these  girls  had  already  been  in  houses  of  prostitution, 
13  had  sisters  who  were  immoral,  31  country  girls  at  Geneva  and  16 
Chicago  girls  each  testified  that  the  companion  of  her  first  experience 
was  a member  of  her  own  family.  Of  course  it  is  apparent  that  in 
many  of  these  instances  more  than  one  of  the  unhappy  conditions 
would  be  operative,  so  that  some  overlapping  must  be  recognized. 
Many  other  instances  could  be  obtained  from  among  the  girls  who  have 
been  wards  of  the  Juvenile  Court.^ 

More  serious  still  are  the  cases  of  venereal  infection  in  families 
where  some  member  of  the  group,  usually  the  father,  spreads  the 
disease.  In  one  case  under  observation,  the  father,  while  living  away 
from  home  became  infected.  A few  weeks  later  he  came  home  and 
infected  a six  year  old  daughter.^  Often  when  the  home  is  not  en- 
tirely degraded  there  are  conditions  of  crowding  and  poverty  which 
lead  to  misfortune.  Working  all  day,  the  girls  are  often  obliged  to 
help  at  home  in  the  evening;  and  if  they  live  in  a crowded  house, 
they  must  go  on  the  streets  to  receive  their  friends.  They  are  thus 
practically  forced  on  the  street  for  social  life. 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “Sources  of  Supply,”  page  228. 

^Monthly  report  of  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association. 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


265 


The  poor  of  the  working  class  usually  raise  large  families,  and  the 
income  is  proportionately  small.  The  responsibilities  are  often  too 
heavy  and  the  parents  cannot  wait  until  the  children  are  fourteen 
years  old  before  they  are  sent  out  to  help  support  the  family.  Many 
girls  go  astray  because  they  are  obliged  to  turn  over  their  earnings  to 
their  father  or  mother.  Naturally,  where  children  of  fourteen  con- 
tribute to  the  support  of  their  family  they  pass  beyond  the  parents’ 
control.  A self-supporting  individual  becomes  in  the  nature  of  things 
a self-directing  individual  and  the  parents  become  less  exacting  about 
morals  when  they  become  dependent  on  the  use  of  the  child’s  wages. 

There  are,  too,  of  course,  in  our  city  many  girls  who  are  in  fact 
homeless,  who  live  in  unprotected  ways  in  boarding  and  lodging 
houses.  The  superintendent  of  the  Compulsory  Department  of  the 
Board  of  Education  cites  cases  in  which  the  practice  of  taking  board- 
ers in  the  congested  districts  results  in  immorality.  The  “star” 
boarder  has  contributed  in  large  measure  to  the  number  of  illegiti- 
mate children.  Many  young  girls  who  are  nominally  under  the  pro- 
tection of  their  own  families  have  either  been  mistreated  by  mem- 
bers of  their  family  or  have  been  made  the  victims  of  their  neglect. 

A little  lame  girl  12  years  of  age  may  be  cited  as  an  illustration  from 
a large  group.  She  was  absent  from  school.  On  investigation,  it 
was  found  that  her  father  had  mistreated  her.  The  child  was  used 
by  a boarder,  46  years  old,  who  paid  the  father  $4.50  a week  for  board 
and  the  use  of  the  child. 

11.  Lack  of  Supervision  on  the  Street.  The  life  on  the  streets  is 
dangerous  for  young  girls,  indeed  for  all  children  who  are  forced 
upon  them  for  social  life.  All  of  the  Commission  investigators  speak 
of  the  large  number  of  young  girls  on  the  streets  late  at  night.  One 
social  worker  reported  seeing  a girl  of  14  or  15  at  half  past  ten  in  the 
evening  with  two  boys  in  an  indecent  attitude,  and  another  little  girl 
of  13  and  a boy  of  14  on  the  corner  of  La  Salle  avenue  and  Locust 
street  at  10  o’clock,  also  in  an  indecent  attitude. 

The  conditions  on  the  streets,  especially  in  the  summer  after  11 
o’clock  make  it  unfit  for  young  girls  to  be  abroad,  and  after  that  hour 
on  many  car  lines  the  passengers  are  noisy,  profane  and  often  in- 
toxicated. The  police  leave  the  parks  and  boulevards  about  10 
o’clock,  so  that  the  danger  in  them  is  even  greater.  One  member 


266 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


of  the  Commission  found  two  children  not  more  than  12  or  13,  hid- 
den in  the  bushes  in  Lincoln  Park  on  the  Lake  Shore  last  summer. 
She  went  up  to  them  to  persuade  them  to  go  home  and  they  ran  away. 
A young  man  arose  from  under  the  same  clump  of  bushes  and  ran 
after  them.  No  policeman  was  in  sight  and  one  could  only  leave 
them  to  their  fate.  On  the  subject  of  children  out  late  at  night  in 
the  streets,  this  same  worker  says : “You  must  educate  the  parents. 
You  must  do  some  strong  talking  to  them.  Many  parents  seem  not 
to  care  what  becomes  of  their  daughters.” 

III.  Dishonest  Practice  by  Theatrical  Agents.  The  theatrical 
agencies  occasionally  deceive  girls,  and  under  promise  of  finding  po- 
sitions for  them  on  the  stage,  really  intend  to  put  them  in  houses,  or 
at  least  get  money  from  them.  A ward  of  the  Illinois  Industrial 
School,  nineteen  years  of  age,  who  was  not  very  bright,  but  a fairly 
decent  girl,  was  placed  in  a home  where  she  received  $4.00  a week. 
For  six  months  she  spent  almost  all  her  money  learning  to  dance 
so  as  to  go  on  the  stage.  When  one  of  the  Commission  ascertained 
how  her  money  went,  she  at  once  put  a stop  to  the  whole  performance 
as  the  child  was  a person  of  such  low  mentality  and  awkward  ways 
that  it  was  impossible  to  teach  her  to  dance.  While  this  agency  prob- 
ably did  not  intend  to  put  her  in  any  danger,  at  the  same  time  it 
took  her  money  so  that  she  worked  for  six  months  for  instruction, 
which  under  no  possibility  could  be  of  any  value. 

IV.  The  Unregulated  Dance  Hall  and  Other  Places  of  Amusement. 
The  chapter  on  “The  Social  Evil  and  the  Saloon”  points  out  the  evil 
resulting  to  women  from  the  saloon  and  the  dance  hall  attached  to 
it,  and  it  is  significant  that  a very  large  number  of  girls  attribute  their 
first  downward  step  to  the  dance  hall. 

The  last  report  of  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association  states  that: 

“There  are  226  dance  halls  in  Chicago,  a very  large  number 
disreputable,  with  saloon  attached,  patronized  by  young  girls. 
* * * Dancing  is  only  a secondary  consideration ; drinking  is  the 
principal  object.  The  girl  is  not  welcome  unless  she  drinks.  From 
this  sort  of  amusement  the  end  is  sure.” 

One  investigator  tells  of  seeing  a very  nice  looking  young  girl  who 
came  with  another  girl  to  a dance  on  the  North  Side.  Two  men 
joined  them  and  the  girl  refused  to  drink  at  first  when  wine  was 
offered.  The  friend  and  the  man  after  trying  vainly  to  persuade 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


267 


her,  finally  seized  her,  and  poured  the  liquor  down  her  throat  in  such 
a way  as  to  force  her  to  swallow  it;  as  she  was  unused  to  drinking 
she  was  quickly  overcome,  but  no  one  interfered,  and  everyone 
around  seemed  to  think  it  perfectly  legitimate  and  good  fun. 

The  amusements  available  for  young  people  are  cheap  and  often 
of  a semi-indecent  character.  The  investigation  of  the  five  and  ten 
cent  theaters  shows  that  nearly  all  need  supervision.  It  is  estimated 
that  400,000  children  visit  these  theaters  and  moving  picture  shows  in 
one  day  in  the  United  States,  and  in  Chicago  alone  at  least  30,000 
children;  and  yet,  as  the  President  of  Juvenile  Protective  Association 
writes, — “We  are  making  no  use  of  what  would  be  a great  educational 
power.” 

In  those  shows  where  the  lights  are  turned  down  many  indecent  acts 
take  place,  which  accustoms  the  girls  to  familiar  treatment.  All  so- 
called  “amateur  nights”  should  be  abolished,  as  the  dressing  rooms  are 
small  and  dirty,  and  there  is  usually  no  separation  of  men  and  women, 
of  boys  and  girls.  The  crowd  of  evil  men  who  congregate  in  front  of 
the  cheap  resorts,  waiting  for  girls  to  come  out,  is  another  element  of 
danger.  They  make  indecent  suggestions  and  use  vile  language. 

Many  groups  of  girls  go  to  summer  parks  without  their  parents  or 
other  friends ; they  start  together,  but  are  separated,  and  in  many 
cases  accept  invitations  from  perfect  strangers,  “to  go  in  and  see  the 
show.”  The  possibilities  offered  to  men  for  becoming  acquainted 
with  young  girls  in  this  way  and  taking  advantage  of  them  are 
endless. 

Some  young  girls  go  regularly  to  these  parks.  They  come  with 
the  price  of  admission  and  carfare,  and  as  they  have  no  money  for 
amusements,  seek  a good  time  at  some  one’s  expense.  A girl  may 
“have  a date  with  some  man,”  or  she  will  “pick  one  up.”  The  man 
knows  what  is  expected  of  him,  she  knows  what  is  expected  of  her, 
and  if  she  fails  to  fulfill  her  part  of  the  bargain,  he  feels  justified  in 
using  force.  The  girls  often  seem  to  have  no  idea  of  chastity,  and  as 
a matter  of  business  make  the  first  advances.  They  belong  to  a class 
of  people  who  seem  non-moral  rather  than  immoral.  And  yet  these 
great  amusement  parks  which  offer  the  only  recreation  many  can  pro- 
cure, are  a necessary  part  of  city  life,  and  they  are  here  to  stay.  All 
that  is  immoral  should,  therefore,  be  strictly  eliminated  from  them.^ 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  213. 


268 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


During  the  summer  the  excursion  boats  are  often  floating  assigna- 
tion houses.  Some  of  those  between  Chicago  and  Milwaukee,  Chicago 
and  St.  Joseph,  Grand  Haven  and  Michigan  City,  are  the  worst.  The 
state  rooms  are  rented  over  and  over  again.  The  boys  carry  whiskey 
in  their  suit  cases  or  buy  it  at  the  bar.  They  are  soon  drunk  and 
the  trip  becomes  an  orgy.  The  state  rooms  are  rented  many  times 
in  the  course  of  three  or  four  hours;  boys  and  girls  lie  in  these 
berths  together  in  an  undressed  condition.^ 

Thus  the  perils  of  unregulated  and  unsupervised  recreation  are  re- 
sponsible for  hundreds  of  girls  now  in  homes  and  reformatories,  and 
many  of  these  girls  would  bear  witness  that  their  irregular  experi- 
ence came  to  them  as  an  incident  to  visits  to  theaters,  walks  at  night 
in  parks,  picnics,  steamer  rides,  etc.  Those  whose  young  daughters 
are  carefully  guarded  can  never  imagine  or  realize  the  perils  to  which 
the  young,  ignorant  pleasure-loving  girls  are  exposed. 

V.  Isolated  Employments.  Domestic  Service.  It  is  an  entirely  new 
experience  to  find  domestic  service  classed  as  a dangerous  moral 
trade,  but  such  is  the  expert’s  point  of  view,  which  is  entirely  justified 
by  the  statistics  of  prisons  and  reformatories. 

Of  the  3,966  unfortunates  who  came  under  the  examination  of  the 
Massachusetts  State  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics,  1,115,  nearly  30  per 
cent.,  had  been  in  domestic  service.  In  the  Bedford  Reformatory 
of  New  York,  of  1,000  women,  475  had  been  servants.  Of  the  127 
girls  in  the  Industrial  School  at  Rochester,  New  York,  there  were 
only  51  wage  earners,  29  of  whom  had  been  domestic  servants.  In 
1908,  in  the  Albion  Home  in  New  York  there  were  168  girls,  92  of 
whom  were  servants. 

A woman  who  has  been  investigating  the  social  condition  of  women 
throughout  the  country,  and  has  given  the  subject  much  thought  feels 
that  the  explanation  lies  in  the  isolation  of  the  workers,  the  fact  that 
they  have  no  place  to  receive  their  friends,  and  that,  therefore,  their 
social  opportunities  are  limited  to  the  park  bench,  the  steamboat  and 
recreation  after  dark. 

VI.  Lack  of  Knowledge  of  Sexual  Matters.  A well  known  woman 
physician  of  Chicago  affirms  that  ignorance  is  often  responsible  for 
the  attitude  of  the  girl  toward  immorality.  As  an  instance  she  cites 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  215. 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


269 


the  case  of  a girl  now  working  at  one  of  the  establishments  in  the 
stockyards  whose  mother  “didn’t  tell  her  things.”  She  is  now  five 
months  pregnant.  The  man  is  a fellow  workmen,  40  years  old,  who 
has  hitherto  borne  a most  excellent  reputation. 

VII.  Undue  Nervous  Strain  from  Economic  Pressure.  On  the 
economic  side,  the  whole  tendency  of  modern  industrialism  is  to 
place  too  heavy  a strain  on  the  nervous  system  of  all  classes,  men  and 
women  alike.  How  much  more  serious  is  this,  when  the  strain  is 
placed  on  the  growing  girl  at  the  period  of  adolescence  when  the 
child  has  to  assume  the  burden  of  self-support  and  self-direction,  and 
often  aid  in  the  support  of  her  family. 

An  investigation  was  recently  made  into  the  living  conditions  of 
200  respectable  working  girls,  not  one  among  them  vicious  or  im- 
moral, and  it  was  found  that  only  six  per  cent,  of  them  had  control 
of  their  wages.  The  rest  were  obliged  to  help  relatives  either  in  the 
home  of  out  of  it.  The  average  wage  of  these  200  women  was  $6.00 
to  $10.00  a week.  It  goes  without  the  saying  that  if  you  have  con- 
ditions which  make  living  with  comfort  impossible  for  any  large 
number  of  men  and  women,  some  of  the  men  will  become  criminals 
and  some  of  the  women,  prostitutes. 

From  these  investigations  it  will  be  seen  that  the  tradition  that 
women  are  usually  in  the  labor  market  for  additional  spending  money 
has  little  foundation  in  fact.  The  average  girl  does  not  enjoy  work 
outside  of  her  own  home  and  will  not  work  unless  spurred  on  by  the 
necessity  of  gaining  her  daily  bread.  This  is  a general  rule  and  does 
not  apply  to  all  cases  such  as  many  high  school  girls  and  the  higher 
class  of  working  girls  who  have  considerable  ambition  and  independ- 
ence of  feeling.  A student  of  economic  problems  says : 

“Any  investigation  which  did  not  involve  a full  inquiry  into 
hours  of  labor,  the  nervous  strain  caused  by  machinery  and  oc- 
cupations where  machinery  is  employed  operated  by  women  and 
girls,  would  fall  short  of  obtaining  accurate  data,  and  would 
have  no  foundation  whatever  on  which  to  deal  with  vice.  There 
are  many  men  who  own  large  establishments  who  pay  wages 
which  simply  drive  women  into  prostitution.  In  all  large  cities 
the  common  school  educates  boys  and  girls  to  desire  at  least 
a decent  living  comfort.  It  also  educates  them  to  discrimina- 
tion, and  they  realize  their  own  hard  lot  when  compared  with 
that  of  others  who  are  well  off.” 

They  go  with  ambition  into  business  or  trades,  but  the  girl  soon  finds 


270 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


out  that  she  has  reached  the  maximum  $7.00  or  $8.00  a week,  when 
she  becomes  discouraged,  and  either  loses  her  ambition  and  joy  of 
life,  or  essays  some  adventure,  more  or  less  hazardous,  to  supplement 
her  meager  wages. 

Thus  among  the  reasons  why  women  or  girls  enter  the  life  of  pros- 
titution the  economic  question  plays  a more  or  less  conspicuous  part. 
The  low  wages  paid,  the  fact  that  in  nearly  all  the  employments  open 
to  women,  the  maximum  wage  is  $10.00  to  $15.00  a week,  and  the 
average  wage  about  $6.00,  the  lack  of  skill,  the  exacting  demands 
especially  in  the  department  stores  for  good  dressing,  the  long  hours 
of  standing,  and  the  extra  fatigue  which  girls  must  endue  at  certain 
periods,  insanitary  conditions  under  which  girls  work  in  factories — 
all  these  have  a powerful  effect  on  a woman’s  or  girl’s  nervous  or 
physical  force.  Then  many  girls  cannot  marry,  or  if  married  they 
must  work  to  help  out  the  family  income,  and  cannot  afford  to  have 
children. 

As  an  instance  in  point.  One  of  the  girls  in  a large  department 
store  said  that  some  of  the  girls  are  married,  but  both  the  girl  and 
man  work.  If  the  wife  becomes  pregnant  she  feels  compelled  to  resort 
to  an  operation  for  they  cannot  live  on  the  husband’s  salary  and 
have  children.  Overwork  is  the  cause  of  innumerable  evils.  It  ends 
by  crippling  the  body,  ruining  the  health  and  shortening  life.  It  cer- 
tainly dwarfs  the  mind  and  leaves  no  room  for  reading  or  mental  de-  i 
velopment.  So  a craving  for  excitement  is  general  among  girls  who  j 
work  long  hours,  for  they  feel  the  necessity  of  stimulation,  and  thus  j 
attend  the  shows  which  make  less  demand  on  them  for  attention.  The  ' 
department  store  girls  are  specially  tempted,  for  they  have  low  wages  j 
and  long  hours,  and  they  are  the  victims  of  low  minded  people  who  j 
use  the  store  as  a field  for  operation,  and  who  are  alert  to  tempt  > 
girls  into  an  immoral  life.  | 

In  1908  and  1909  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association  made  a study  [i 
of  the  waiting  rooms  in  the  department  stores,  and  during  this  in-  ' 
vestigation  16  arrests  were  made  of  procurers,  15  men  and  1 woman,  ii 
All  of  whom  were  convicted  and  fined.  These  rooms  are  used  by  ;; 
girls  looking  for  employment,  and  if  the  girl  who  is  employed  is  often  ; 
in  danger,  she  is  safe  compared  to  the  girl  looking  for  work.  In  one  ;i 
of  the  waiting  rooms  there  were  counted  48  girls,  ranging  from  14 
years  to  20.  A large  number  of  them  were  continuously  studying  j 


271 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 

the  Want-ad  columns  of  the  newspaper.  Some  of  the  girls  were  in 
groups,  but  many  were  alone,  and  a large  number  spent  all  day  with- 
out food. 

One  girl  said  in  answer  to  questions  of  the  investigator  that  her 
landlady  gave  her  something  to  eat  in  the  morning,  that  she  absolutely 
had  not  a cent,  that  she  owed  for  six  weeks’  board,  and  that  she 
walked  down  town  and  trusted  to  picking  up  a newspaper,  as  she 
hadn’t  a cent  to  buy  one. 

The  men  procurers  come  two  or  three  together,  and  use  all  sorts 
of  schemes  to  get  acquainted  with  the  girls.  Other  public  waiting 
rooms,  such  as  those  in  railway  stations,  are  used  in  this  manner. 
In  any  place  where  the  poorer  girls  congregate,  there  are  found  the 
largest  number  of  procurers. 

After  this  investigation,  a report  was  made  to  the  managers  of 
department  stores,  and  conditions  were  much  improved;  but  all 
public  waiting  rooms  should  be  supervised  and  policed.  It  is  believed 
that  during  the  past  winter  the  conditions  in  the  department  store 
waiting  rooms  have  deteriorated.  Eternal  vigilance  is  the  price  of 
safety  for  young  girls. 

In  Chapter  IV,  “Sources  of  Supply,”  attention  is  called  to  the  wages 
received  by  girls  in  department  stores.  It  is  shown  there  that  these 
wages  are  very  low,  hardly  enough  to  supply  the  necessities  of  life, 
especially  if  the  employe  happens  to  be  alone  in  the  city  and  thrown 
on  her  own  resources.  The  temptations,  therefore,  to  a moneyless 
girl  to  accept  invitations  even  from  strangers,  for  luncheon,  dinner  or 
the  theater  are  very  great.  One  night  while  an  investigator  was  in  the 
(X1262a)  and  (X1262b)  Cafes  on  (X1262c)  avenue,  he  saw  five  sales- 
girls in  these  places  whom  he  recognized  as  being  from  a department 
store. 

The  fining  system  under  the  guise  of  maintaining  discipline,  which 
exists  in  some  of  the  stores,  should  be  regulated  by  law. 

VIII.  Semi-Professional  and  Professional  Prostitutes.  From  the 
testimony  of  the  investigators  employed  by  the  Commission  a fairly 
large  number  of  girls  employed  in  department  stores  supplement  their 
income  by  a certain  amount  of  prostitution,  and  with  such  girls  the 
economic  question  is  probably  the  main  one.  They  feel  they  cannot 
live  on  the  wages  they  receive,  and  they  are  compelled  to  earn  more 
money  in  order  to  live  with  the  decency  their  position  requires. 


272 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


The  number  of  professional  prostitutes  is  estimated  in  Chapter  I, 
“Existing  Conditions,”  at  5,000.  The  number  of  clandestine  prostitutes 
it  is  impossible  to  estimate.  The  rescue  and  reformation  of  the  ha- 
bitual prostitute  presents  a problem  of  the  most  difficult  character. 
Such  a woman  is  the  vanishing  material  of  society.  She  leaves  noth- 
ing behind  her,  has  usually  severed  her  family  connections  and  has  no 
social  life.  If  she  ever  had  religious  convictions,  they  are  in  abeyance 
and  her  concern  for  ethics  is  absolutely  gone.  Her  economic  value  can- 
not be  reckoned  with,  as  she  is  always  more  or  less  unskilled.  Every 
opportunity  should  be  offered  such  individuals  of  this  class  as  may 
desire  to  abandon  their  evil  life,  and  earnest  support  should  be  given 
to  all  such  agencies  as  seek  to  reach  out  and  reclaim  these  to  rectitude, 
to  moral  integrity,  and  a career  that  may  yet  prove  wholesome  and 
serviceable  to  society.  Yet  the  problems  of  the  restoration  to  social 
competence  is  most  perplexing  and  puts  strong  emphasis  upon  the  need 
of  moral  and  religious  education  at  an  earlier  stage  of  individual  life. 

REMEDIAL  MEASURES. 

1.  Legal  Enactment. 

(a)  Equitable. 

Among  the  laws  which  attempt  to  secure  protection  to  girls  should 
be  mentioned  first,  the  Juvenile  Court  Law.  This  law  provides  that  all 
persons  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  shall,  for  the  purposes  of 
this  act,  be  considered  wards  of  the  State,  and  their  persons  subject  to 
the  care,  guardianship  and  control  of  the  Court,  and  so  defines  de- 
pendent and  delinquent  children  as  to  bring  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Court  girls  whose  morals  are  in  peril  because  of  home  conditions, 
inadequate  training  or  any  other  unfavorable  conditions.^  It  must  be 
noted,  however,  that  the  Juvenile  Court  must  acquire  jurisdiction  of 
the  child  before  the  age  of  eighteen  in  order  to  exercise  the  super- 
vision and  guardianship  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-one. 

(b)  Criminal. 

The  laws  which  attempt  to  protect  girls  and  women  by  punishing 
offenses  against  their  virtue  prohibit : 

(1)  Enticing  an  unmarried  female  of  chaste  life  to  enter  a house 
of  prostitution.  Penalty,  imprisonment  one  to  twenty  years. 


lAppendix  XXXVIII. 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


273 


(2)  Detaining  any  female  in  such  a house.  Penalty,  imprison- 
ment of  from  one  to  ten  years. 

(3)  Allowing  an  unmarried  female  under  eighteen  to  live  in  a 
house  of  prostitution.  Penalty,  imprisonment  of  from  one  to  five 
years. 

(4)  Enticing  any  female  under  eighteen  to  come  into  the  State 
for  immoral  purposes.  Penalty,  imprisonment  one  to  five  years. 

(5)  Pandering.  Penalty  for  the  first  offense,  imprisonment  in  the 
county  jail  six  months  to  one  year,  or  a fine  of  $300  to  $1,000;  for 
subsequent  offenses  imprisonment  of  from  one  to  ten  years. 

(6)  Detaining  a female  in  a house  of  prostitution  against  her 
will  to  compel  the  payment,  liquidation  or  canceling  of  a debt.  Pen- 
alty, first  offense,  imprisonment  six  months  to  a year,  and  a fine  of 
from  $300  to  $3,000.  Subsequent  offenses,  imprisonment  one  to  five 
years. 1 

(7)  Contributing  to  the  delinquency  or  dependency  of  children.^ 

(8)  Regulations  governing  the  maintenance  of  houses  of  prostitu- 
tion, declaring  such  a house  to  be  a nuisance,  imposing  a penalty  of 
$200.00  for  the  offense  of  maintaining,  patronizing,  keeping  such  a 
house,  or  letting  a house  for  such  purposes. ^ 

(9)  Prohibition  directed  towards  the  patrons  and  inmates  of  such 
houses.^ 

(10)  Provision  intended  to  prevent  and  punish  the  immoral  solic- 
itation on  the  streets. 

(a)  Definition  of  vagabond  so  as  to  include  persons  who  commit 
such  acts.^ 

(b)  Defining  and  penalizing  disorderly  conduct.® 

(11)  Abandonment  of  wife  and  children.  Penalty,  fine  of  $100 
to  $500,  imprisonment  one  to  twelve  months,  or  both  fine  and  impris- 
onment with  power  in  Court  to  substitute  regular  contribution  to  fam- 
ily support  for  statutory  penalty. 

(12)  The  Bastardy  Law;  collection  of  $100  for  first  year  and  $50 
each  of  nine  succeeding  years,  or  allowing  release  on  payment  of 
$400.'!’ 

^Appendix  VI. 

^Appendix  XXXVII. 

^Appendices  I-II. 

^Appendix  V. 

^Appendix  VIII. 

®Appendix  VII. 

^Appendix  XXXIV. 


274 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


One  of  the  difficulties  of  securing  convictions  under  the  laws  for 
the  protection  of  women  is  that  so  many  women  prefer  to  suffer 
rather  than  brave  the  notoriety  and  unpleasant  experiences  which  they 
must  endure  in  court  trials.  This  is  especially  the  case  where  young 
children  are  involved.  The  following  incident  exemplifies  the  hard- 
ship and  humiliation  to  which  young  children  are  very  often  sub- 
jected in  the  conduct  of  the  court.  It  would  seem  that  such  things 
might  be  avoided  and  yet  keep  within  the  legal  requirements  of  the  pub- 
licity of  trials.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a report  of  IMarch 
1,  1911,  on  the  Gibson  case: 

“On  Monday  the  counsel  for  the  defense  asked  the  judge  to 
have  the  two  ladies  leave  the  court  room  (truant  officer  and 
myself).  The  judge  saw  no  reason  for  this.  Lawyer  said,  ‘This 
is  not  a fit  case  for  ladies  to  hear.’  The  judge  said  we  could  re- 
main. 

At  this  time  there  were  about  seventy-five  (75)  men  in  the 
court  room — little  girl  in  the  witness  chair. 

In  rape  cases  where  little  girls  are  involved  could  not  men  (ex- 
cepting those  connected  with  court  or  case)  be  kept  out  of  court 
room? 

(X1053)  occupied  the  witness  chair  one  and  a half  days — 
was  made  sick  from  nervous  strain.  She  said  to  me,  ‘The  men 
looked  at  each  other  and  smiled  at  what  I said,  that  was  what  made 
me  get  nervous  and  jerk  so.’ 

And  more  than  this,  such  an  ordeal  can  but  have  a hardening 
effect  on  girls,  when  so  many  men  are  in  the  court  room.” 

(c)  Institntio7ial  Agencies  for  the  Care  and  Reformation  of  Girls. 

These  institutions  are  established  by  the  city,  the  state,  by  churches 
and  by  non-religious  voluntary  societies. 

1.  The  Juvenile  Court. 

The  first  institution  to  be  noted  is  the  Juvenile  Court.  This  court 
handled  during  the  year  1909,  332  delinquent  girls  who  had  never 
been  in  court;  500  dependent  girls  who  had  never  been  in  court;  132 
delinquent  girls  who  had  already  been  wards  of  the  court;  177  de- 
pendent girls  who  had  already  been  wards  of  the  court.  Of  these  236 
delinquent  and  404  dependent  girls  were  committed  to  institutions. 
Not  so  many  girls  as  boys  are  brought  into  court;  but  they  come  in 
under  circumstances  of  great  peril  as  the  very  large  proportion  are 
charged  with  immoral  conduct  or  are  taken  from  immoral  surround- 
ings. A very  large  proportion  of  them  are,  therefore,  either  com- 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


275 


mitted  at  once  to  institutions  or  if  put  on  probation  are  soon  returned 
to  court  and  committed.  They  are  in  shocking  physical  coridition. 
For  example,  65  per  cent,  of  the  delinquent  and  dependent  girls  had 
bad  teeth,  30  per  cent,  needed  medical  or  surgical  care,  29  per  cent, 
of  the  girls  were  afflicted  with  venereal  diseases.  Of  the  369  delin- 
quent girls  examined,  33  per  cent,  were  diseased,  while  among  the 
dependent  girls  only  13  per  cent,  were  diseased.^ 

2.  The  Juvenile  Protective  Association. 

Second  in  influence  must  come  the  Juvenile  Protective  Association, 
“which  investigates  and  endeavors  to  remedy  all  the  cpnditions  con- 
tributing to  the  dependency  and  delinquency  of  children.”  The  city 
is  divided  by  it  into  districts,  in  each  of  which  is  placed  an  officer 
whose  duty  it  is  to  supervise  all  conditions  detrimental  to  children’s 
morality.  During  the  year  1909-10,  this  Association  cared  for  4,305 
cases,  referred  865  to  other  organizations,  and  investigated  136  com- 
plaints found  to  be  groundless.  It  has  carried  on  nine  investigations 
into  conditions  prevailing  on  steamboats,  in  amusement  parks,  cheap 
theaters  and  the  home  life  of  working  girls. 

3.  The  Geneva  State  Home. 

The  Geneva  Home  for  Girls  is  the  state  institution,  intended  solely 
for  the  care  of  delinquent  girls.  It  is  on  the  cottage  plan.  The  girls 
are  committed  on  indeterminate  sentences.  As  it  is  the  only  state 
institution  for  the  reform  of  girls,  there  are  at  present  over  500  girls 
with  a very  long  waiting  list,  and-  it  is  so  overcrowded  that  it  is 
difficult  to  grade  the  girls,  or  to  give  them  the  personal  supervision 
necessary  in  such  cases. 

4.  The  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd. 

The  House  of  the  Good  Shepherd  is  conducted  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  It  receives  delinquent  and  semi- 
delinquent girls.  These  two  classes  are  kept  strictly  separate. 

5.  The  Ghicago  Refuge  for  Girls. 

The  Chicago  Refuge  for  Girls  receives  delinquent  girls  and  ma- 
ternity cases,  many  from  the  Juvenile  Court.  In  January,  1909,  there 
were  129  girls  in  the  Refuge.  During  the  year  84  were  admitted  and 


^See  Annual  Report  Juvenile  Court,  1909. 


276 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


92  were  dismissed.  The  number  applying  for  admission  is  ever  on 
the  increase,  so  that  the  directors  feel  that  “something  must  be  done” 
to  enlarge  its  facilities,  which  at  present  are  overcrowded  and  in- 
adequate. The  girls  are  taught  housework,  dressmaking,  and  some  of 
the  arts  and  crafts  work.  They  are  not  allowed  to  leave  until  they 
have  been  taught  the  various  industries  to  the  point  of  money  earning 
proficiency. 

6.  General. 

There  are  many  other  small  institutions  which  receive  delinquent 
girls,  and  even  prostitutes.  The  Salvation  Army  conducts  a most  suc- 
cessful small  home.  The  Beulah  House,  the  Pacific  Garden  Mission, 
the  Florence  Crittenton  Anchorage,  all  maintain  homes,  but  they  can 
accommodate  only  a very  limited  number.  The  Home  for  the  Friend- 
less takes  care  of  qlmost  anyone  who  applies.  The  city  has  also  made 
a small  appropriation  to  furnish  shelter  for  homeless  women.  The 
Martha  Washington  Home  provides  a retreat  for  victims  of  alco- 
holism and  drugs,  and  makes  an  effort  to  reform  them. 

The  Episcopal  Cathedral  in  the  center  of  the  West  Side  restricted 
district  maintains  a small  refuge  under  the  direction  of  the  Sisters  of 
St.  Mary. 

Several  of  the  national  groups  in  the  city  support  homes  for  home- 
less or  immigrant  girls.  Among  these  are  the  Home  for  Swedish 
Girls,  and  the  Jewish  Home  for  Girls,  the  latter  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Chicago  branch  of  the  National  Council  of  Jewish  Women.  A 
movement  is  now  in  progress  to  establish  a home  for  Hungarian  girls, 
of  whom  a large  number  have  recently  arrived  in  Chicago. 

Many  of  the  maternity  homes,  and  those  institutions  conducted  by 
religious  societies,  report  that  their  work  is  encouraging,  with  a fair 
percentage  of  reformation.  They  have  a very  difficult  hygienic  prob- 
lem, as  it  is  said  that  at  least  75  per  cent,  of  the  girls  received  by 
them  are  infected  with  gonorrhoea.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  these 
ignorant  girls,  who  rarely  enter  into  the  class  of  professional  pros- 
titutes, are  more  apt  to  be  diseased  than  the  professional  prostitutes 
who  are  taught  to  take  care  of  themselves  and  to  exact  certain  pre- 
cautions of  their  men  visitors. 

It  is,  however,  impossible  to  secure  any  exact  data  from  these  homes 
and  institutions.  The  reports  are  always  colored  by  the  temperament 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


277 


of  those  who  make  them,  and  are,  therefore,  either  optimistic  or  pessi- 
mistic, without  justification  in  carefully  compiled  figures.  The  deacon- 
esses, the  sisters  and  the  lay  workers  bring  to  their  hard  and  un- 
gracious task  a divine  patience  and  faith,  but  in  some  cases  it  is 
evident  that  the  same  amount  of  efifort  expended  in  a more  scientific 
manner,  and  with  the  application  of  more  advanced  ideas  of  institu- 
tional work  would  result  in  greater  efficiency. 

The  Maternity  Ward  of  the  Cook  County  Hospital  is  a sad  place. 
The  provisions  for  the  patients  are  fairly  adequate,  but  the  entire 
situation  is  terribly  depressing.  It  is  estimated  that  50  per  cent,  of  the 
babies  born  there  are  the  children  of  unmarried  mothers. 

As  the  poor  lose  their  fear  and  prejudice  regarding  hospitals  many 
reputable  married  women  who  have  small  and  poor  homes,  and  can- 
not pay  the  expense  of  confinement  at  home,  go  to  the  county  hos- 
pital. In  many  European  countries  the  “maternity  assistant  societies” 
would  come  to  the  aid  of  such  cases  and  see  to  it  that  the  expectant 
mother  has  the  necessary  care  and  rest  in  her  own  home.  These 
maternity  assistant  societies  are  composed  of  well-to-do  and  poor 
women  all  contributing  to  a fund  for  this  purpose.  The  efifort  serves 
a double  purpose,  as  it  interests  the  more'fortunate  women  in  the  less 
fortunate.  The  conservation  of  life  is  attracting  much  attention 
among  foreign  physicians,  who  insist  that  a woman  should  have  three 
weeks  of  rest  before  the  child’s  birth  and  four  or  six  weeks  after  in 
order  to  give  birth  to  a healthy  infant  and  give  it  the  necessary  at- 
tention. Some  attempts  along  these  lines  have  been  made  in  this 
country,  but  much  more  care  should  be  given  expectant  mothers  than 
is  now  the  case.  In  the  new  county  hospital  it  may  be  possible  to  re- 
serve one  ward  for  married  mothers,  and  one  for  young  girls.  It 
must  add  to  the  bitterness  of  their  coming  trial  to  be  shut  up  with 
the  class  of  women  of  whom  so  many  go  to  the  county. 

7.  ‘‘Abortion  Mills/’  There  are  many  private  hospitals  which  are 
simply  abortion  mills.  It  is  extremely  difficult,  however,  to  bring  the 
responsible  man  in  charge  of  these  establishments  to  justice.^  Mid- 
wives, too,  are  responsible  for  many  abortions ; the  license  system  is 
so  carelessly  administered  that  difficulties  are  experienced  in  follow- 
ing and  bringing  to  justice  any  cases  of  malpractice.  The  number  of 

^See  Chapter  IV,  “ Sources  of  Supply,”  page  225. 


278 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


women  and  girls  who  die  as  the  result  of  this  malpractice  will  never 
be  known ; but  one  woman  physician,  who  has  a large  practice  among 
working  girls,  estimates  that  the  practice  of  abortion  is  very  prevalent 
and  that  the  health  of  large  numbers  of  women  is  permanently  im- 
paired by  malpractice. 

8.  Treatment  of  Venereal  Disease. 

Of  the  hospitals  for  venereal  diseases  of  women,  the  ward  at  the 
Cook  County  Hospital  is  the  only  example  in  Chicago. 

There  is  a small  home  for  children,  the  Frances  Juvenile  Home, 
but  the  accommodations  are  limited,  as  only  fifteen  children  can  be 
cared  for  at  a time.  There  is  no  proper  provision  for  girls  of  four- 
teen and  upward.  These  children  often  become  innocently  infected 
and  should  not  be  placed  in  public  institutions. 

There  is  no  more  shocking  crime  than  the  infection  of  innocent  per- 
sons, nor  one  having  such  a tremendous  effect  on  the  physical  and 
moral  welfare  of  a family,  and  yet  there  is  no  legal  redress.  A wife 
may  be  infected  and  really  die  from  a venereal  infection  contracted 
from  her  husband.  So  far  as  our  laws  go  she  is  helpless.  This  is  a 
question  which  should  have  the  careful  consideration  of  our  legal  ad- 
visers. 

9.  Immigrants’  Protective  League. 

Employment  offices  often  send  girls  to  improper  homes.  The  im- 
migrant girls  are  the  chief  victims.  These  girls  arrive  in  Chicago 
with  insufficient  addresses  and  as  they  do  not  speak  the  language,  they 
are  in  great  danger  of  being  victimized,  both  as  regards  money  and 
virtue.  Many  typical  cases  are  cited  in  the  last  report  of  the  League 
for  the.  Protection  of  Immigrants.  One  girl  of  seventeen  years  was 
put  off  a train  in  South  Chicago  by  mistake,  and  as  she  did  not  speak  a 
word  of  English  she  wandered  about  almost  all  night.  Finally  a 
man  offered  assistance  and  conducted  her  in  safety  to  her  friends  on 
the  Northwest  Side  of  the  city.  Several  other  cases  are  given  in  the 
reports,  which  adds : 

“Several  girls  told  of  being  approached  on  the  trains  and  invited 
by  strange  men  to  get  off  at  ‘some  big  city  and  see  the  town.’  ” 

The  League  has  an  excellent  program  for  future  work,  and  it  only 
remains  for  the  public  to  support  it  to  enable  it  to  render  effective 


service. 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


279 


IV.  Conclusion:  Remedial  Measures. 

From  the  foregoing  statement  several  remedial  measures  suggest 
themselves. 

1.  Revision  of  the  criminal  law  either  in  substance  or  in  regard 
to  the  evidence  required  to  convict. 

2.  More  skillful  treatment  of  the  girl  who  is  semi-delinquent  only. 

3.  More  rational  treatment  of  arrested  women. 

4.  More  rational  treatment  of  the  occasional  prostitute. 

5.  More  intelligent  treatment  of  cases  of  illegitimate  maternity. 

6.  Better  supervision  and  more  intelligent  administration  of  rescue 
institutions. 

7.  Better  recognition  of  the  connection  between  low  wages  and 
occasional  prostitution. 

8.  More  adequate  provisions  for  the  cure  of  the  professional  pros- 
titute. 

1.  Revision  of  the  criminal  law. 

(a)  Relating  to  Male  Offenders. 

From  the  foregoing,  it  is  apparent  that  while  the  law  is  in  form 
fairly  adequate  for  the  protection  of  women  and  girls,  yet  in  sub- 
stance since  very  few  male  offenders  are  tried  under  these  sections  of 
the  criminal  code  relating  to  the  protection  of  girls  and  women,  and 
since  when  they  are  brought  to  trial  the  great  majority  have  been  dis- 
charged, it  seems  of  slight  avail. 

(b)  Relating  to  Female  Offenders. 

It  appears  from  the  records  that  these  women  are  in  many  instances 
fined.  Such  a penalty,  of  course,  places  the  woman  more  completely  in 
the  power  of  those  in  whose  behalf  she  plies  her  trade. 

Others  are  imprisoned  for  short  periods  of  time.  Imprisonment 
without  intelligent  treatment  adapted  to  their  physical,  social  and  in- 
dustrial weakness  is  obviously  futile.  Attention  should  be  called  to 
such  undertakings  as  that  of  The  Waverly  House  in  New  York  City, 
which  is  supported  by  the  Probation  Association  of  New  York.  It  is 
in  a sense  a detention  home  for  wayward  girls,  and  their  cases  are 
studied,  their  history  ascertained,  and  the  girls  themselves  are  en- 
couraged to  tell  of  their  lives,  and  made  to  feel  that  they  are  not  among 
judges  but  among  friends.  The  superintendent  sums  up  the  whole 


280 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


matter  by  saying,  “We  could  save  75  per  cent,  if  only  we  could  find 
a way  to  begin  nearer  the  beginning,”  and  she  thus  has  stated  the 
crux  of  the  whole  matter. 

2.  More  Intelligent  Treatment  of  Semi-Delinquent  Girls. 

It  is  evident  that  better  methods  of  classification  should  be  adopted 
so  that  the  semi-delinquent  girls  would  not  be  classed  with  the  de- 
linquent, nor,  except  in  extreme  cases,  or  where  diseased,  placed  in  an 
institution  for  delinquents  like  that  at  Geneva.  They  should  be  sent 
to  a school  where  industrial  training  is  given  to  them  and  their  in- 
dustrial value  increased.  The  atmosphere  of  such  a school  should  be 
that  of  a boarding  school,  and  as  soon  as  any  girl  shows  sufficient  ability 
to  earn  a living,  and  a desire  to  do  so,  she  should  be  allowed  to  leave 
on  probation,  under  the  supervision  of  a probation  officer,  who  is  a 
woman  of  experience  and  training.  While  in  the  school  the  girl’s 
health  should  be  carefully  supervised,  and  physical  training,  as  well  as 
social  hygiene  should  be  a part  of  her  curriculum.  When  she  leaves 
the  school,  if  possible,  a good  home,  not  too  strict,  should  be  found 
for  her.  With  a change  in  surroundings  and  the  substitution  of  a 
regular  life  for  the  former  lawless  one,  combined  with  education  for 
self  support,  and  the  feeling  that  they  are  among  friends,  eighty  per 
cent,  of  the  semi-delinquent  girls  could  be  returned  to  society. 

3.  More  Intelligent  Treatment  of  the  Occasional  Prostitute.  The 
semi-professional  prostitutes  are  usually  the  only  ones  that  ply  their 
trade  for  their  own  advantage.  As  long  as  they  are  not  attached  to  a 
house  and  do  not  solicit  for  a particular  man,  there  is  hope  for  them. 
This  class  is  largely  composed  of  those  who  are  so  unskilled  as 
workers  as  to  be  useless  in  the  labor  market.  They  work  for  low 
wages,  often  at  seasonal  trades,  many  living  away  from  home  and 
while  they  make  a good  appearance  on  the  street  they  are  very  igno- 
rant and  untrained.  They  do  not  reside  in  houses  of  prostitution  but 
go  on  the  streets  to  solicit  two  or  three  times  a week. 

These  occasional  prostitutes  when  arrested  by  the  police  are  fright- 
ened and  confused.  They  are  new  to  the  life  and  not  having  as  yet 
attached  themselves  to  the  usual  crowd,  who  watch  for  such  cases 
to  bail  them  ^out  or  to  pay  their  fines,  they  receive  the  maximum  sen- 
tence. This  is  the  psychological  moment  in  which  the  probation  officer 
can  influence  the  girl.  Such  cases  should  all  come  before  one  judge 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


281 


in  one  court,  and  the  officers  in  charge  should  be  experienced  women. 
When  the  officer  is  the  right  sort  she  can  be  a friend  to  such  a girl, 
which  is  often  all  that  is  needed.  These  girls  should  be  paroled  and 
sent  back  when  possible  to  their  work  under  friendly  and  close  super- 
vision. 

A prominent  clergyman  who  is  also  a social  worker  in  conference 
before  the  Commission  made  the  following  statement : 

“A  lot  can  be  done  if  we  believe  that  a very  large  percentage  of 
those  who  pass  through  a period  of  prostitution  are  capable  of 
climbing  upward  instead  of  downward  by  the  momentum  of  their 
own  better  nature.  We  will  have  to  change  our  theory  about  the 
woman  criminal,  if  we  are  going  to  save  her.  And  if  the  woman 
is  a prostitute,  it  is  only  through  (1)  the  foolish  uncontrolled 
passion  of  youth,  and  (2)  financial  stress.  To  my  mind  she  can 
fight  both  of  these,  but  she  can’t  fight  those  and  the  added  dam- 
nation of  the  saloon  and  the  cool,  sagacious  business  man,  who 
simply  stands  by  and  drains  her  for  profit.  She  could  break 
through  the  economic  dangers  and  the  physical  temptations  if  you 
will  give  her  a chance  but  when  you  make  her  fight  alcohol  and 
capitalization,  she  has  no  show. 

“The  first  step  is  usually  on  account  of  some  man,  and  then 
he  ill-treats  and  deserts  her.  After  she  has  taken  the  first  step 
it  is  easy  to  take  the  second.  The  girls  that  go  to  maternity 
homes,  nine  out  of  ten  can  be  saved,  but  it  seems  to  me  the  real 
prostitute  who  goes  into  it  for  business,  she  is  a one-eighth  part  of 
the  business,  and  I think  the  world  is  making  a mistake  in  the  way 
it  is  looking  at  this  whole  question.  They  are  putting  their  minds 
on  this  poor  unfortunate  woman,  when  really,  she  is  just  a side 
issue  of  the  real  thing.” 

4.  Improvement  in  Industrial  Conditions.  One  of  the  chief  rea- 
sons why  girls  enter  the  life  of  prostitution  is  evidently  the  economic 
one.  They  cannot  live  on  the  wages  paid  them.  Contrary  to  the  usual 
opinion,  it  costs  a girl  more  to  live  respectably  than  a man.  She  must 
reside  in  a better  neighborhood,  her  clothes  are  more  expensive  and 
the  family  makes  more  demands  on  her  resources. 

An  investigation  should  be  made  of  all  establishments  employing 
girls  and  young  unmarried  men,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  accurate 
figures  as  to  the  salaries  paid,  hours  of  work,  including  overtime. 
The  contracts  made  by  employes  with  those  establishments  should 
also  be  studied.  These  contracts  go  into  the  life  history  of  each  person, 
and  will  show  instability  of  employment  in  such  places.  When  these 
facts  are  secured,  a study  should  be  made  showing  rents,  cost  of 


282 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


living,  @tc.  It  should  bfe  determined  what  should  be  the  living  wage 
for  this  particular  class  of  workers,  and  if  such  an  investigation  were 
made  public,  it  would  assist  in  creating  an  “industrial  conscience”  and 
would  educate  the  community  to  demand  the  living  wage.  We  recom- 
mend to  the  Chicago  Association  of  Commerce  or  some  similar  body, 
the  appointment  of  a Committee  or  a Commission  to  undertake  such  an 
inquiry  in  establishments  where  women  and  girls  are  employed.  The 
Congress  for  the  Suppression  of  the  White  Slave  Traffic  held  in  Vienna 
in  1909,  passed  a resolution,  asking  that  “social  life  be  so  modified  that 
young  girls  in  every  country  receive  a wage  which  enables  them  to 
live. 

“It  is  a profound  truth  that  social  institutions  do  not  keep  pace 
with  economic  changes.” 

In  addition  to  higher  wages,  the  present  working  conditions  need 
modification  in  many  ways.  Since  the  ten-hour  law  was  declared 
constitutional,  the  hardship  of  overtime  for  women  has  been  much 
mitigated.  But  America  is  slow  to  protect  her  working  women. 
Since  1844  England  has  had  protective  legislation  for  women,  and  in 
1847  in  the  textile  mills  women  were  only  allowed  to  work  ten  hours. 
Five  years  ago  France  established  the  ten-hour  law,  and  in  some 
countries  special  provision  for  giving  extra  time  off  for  women  who 
have  home  responsibilities  is  made  by  law.  The  tendency  is  espe- 
cially marked  in  France  towards  very  liberal  interpretation  of  the  law 
as  regards  working  women,  and  in  Belgium  certain  classes  of  work  is 
forbidden  to  women. 

5.  More  Humane  Treatment  of  Extra-Conjugal  Maternity,  (a) 
The  maternity  cases  present  great  difficulty  on  account  of  the  frequent 
impossibility  of  learning  the  name  of  the  man  and  so  bringing  him 
to  justice,  and  (b)  because  of  the  baby  which  may  be  sometimes  a 
blessing,  but  is  often  a burden.  It  is  impossible  to  lay  down  definite 
rules  for  these  cases  to  determine  whether  the  mother  should  keep  the 
child  or  give  it  up.  Some  there  are  who  question  if  a child  can  be  ille- 
gitimately born.  The  law  at  the  least  should  provide  whereby  the 
parents  should  support  the  child ; good  results  would  undoubtedly  fol- 
low. It  would  at  least  prevent  the  innocent  child  from  suffering  from 
the  brand  which  society  now  places  upon  it.  This  law  under  which 
the  child  would  inherit  from  the  father  or  mother  would  perhaps  have 
the  effect  of  making  the  girl  and  her  parents  more  anxious  to  secure 
the  co-operation  of  the  father,  and  of  inducing  the  parents  of  the  girl 


■iSliSaBliSH 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


283 


1 1 


to  receive  her  into  their,  home.  As  it  is  at  present,  thanks  to  the 
foundling  homes,  etc.,  it  is  entirely  too  easy  to  abandon  children. 

i|  A large  number  of  maternity  cases,  especially  where  the  child  is  the 
first  born,  often  represent  a most  lovable  type  of  woman,  who  gives 
|!  herself  for  love’s  sake,  not  counting  the  cost.  She  sometimes  sins 
through  her  better  nature  and  her  higher  impulses,  and  if  her  child 
1 were  legitimatized,  and  she  herself  had  the  family  recognition,  a 
I woman  of  this  type  would  rapidly  rehabilitate  herself.  It  should  at 
: least  no  longer  be  possible  for  a man  to  be  quit  of  all  obligations  toward 
, his  child  and  its  mother  by  paying  down  $400. 


Attention  may  be  called,  however,  to  the  Norwegian  law,  which 
went  into  effect  January  1,  1910,  in  accordance  with  which  an  illegit- 
imate child  has  equal  claim  on  its  father  and  mother;  it  may  bear  its 
father’s  name ; it  has  the  same  rights  of  inheritance  as  his  legitimate 
children ; it  has  the  right  to  an  education  equal  to  the  wealthier  of  the 
parents;  it  may  live  with  its  mother  or  can  be  placed  elsewhere  to 
board.  Whichever  parent  has  not  the  care  of  the  child  must  pay  for  its 
support  and  education.  The  mother’s  confinement  expenses  must  be 
i borne  by  the  father,  and  he  must  also  pay  her  pre-confinement  expenses 
t if  her  condition  has  incapacitated  her  for  work.  He  must  in  any  case 
pay  her  expenses  six  weeks  before  her  confinement,  and  three  months 
after,  or  nine  months  after  if  she  nurses  the  child.  If  several  men  are 
implicated,  all  must  pay  their  share. 


. Just  as  the  law  compels  the  father,  when  he  is  able,  to  support  his 
minor  children,  so  it  is  urged,  the  law  should  extend  to  the  support 
of  children  where  there  has  been  no  lawful  marriage.  For  the  children, 
in  the  interests  of  the  state,  need  to  be  brought  up  in  a respectable 
manner,  cared  for,  supported,  and  educated,  to  become  reputable 
citizens. 


If  this  reasoning  is  sound,  as  we  believe  it  is,  sections  24  and  25 
of  the  Criminal  Code  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  relating  to  Abandonment, 
might  be  enacted  into  law  to  cover  children  born  out  of  wedlock,  com- 
pelling the  father,  if  it  can  be  shown  to  the  court  he  is  financially 
able  to  do  so,  to  support  all  such  children  until  the  age  that  the  law 
allows  them  to  seek  employment. 

Such  a law  would  make  ample  provision  for  such  children,  and 


284 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


would  impose  no  heavier  obligation  upon  the  true  father  than  he  !| 
should  bear.  It  might  well  be  provided  in  such  a law,  that  in  case  of 
a legal  adoption  by  a third  party,  a covenant  may  be  entered  into,  be- 
tween  such  third  party  and  the  father,  releasing  the  latter  from  the 
further  support,  maintenance  and  education  of  the  child  upon  proof  ! 
that  the  adopting  parents  are  able  to  take  care  of  such  child.  ‘ 

A very  large  number  of  prostitutes  are  divorced,  and  in  that  con-  - 
nection  some  investigation  in  regard  to  desertion  and  non-support  i 
should  be  made.  No  study  of  the  subject  has  been  made  in  Chicago 
that  gives  any  description  of  the  family,  its  previous  dependence,  or  i 
previous  desertions,  the  number  and  age  of  the  children,  the  national-  ■ 
ities,  religious  belief,  difference  in  age  of  man  and  woman,  and  cir- 
cumstances of  marriage.  Neither  is  there  anything  to  show  the  char-  - 
acteristics  of  the  deserted  wives,  such  as  reputation  as  mother  or  1 
housekeeper,  and  habits  or  economic  status  beforehand. 

6.  Better  Regulation  of  Rescue  Homes.  The  rescue  homes  in  . 
Chicago  do  not  meet  the  needs  of  the  present  situation.  They  are 
overcrowded,  such  industrial  training  as  is  given  is  very  superficial  and  | 
they  are  hampered  by  want  of  means  and  workers ; thus  it  is  im- 
possible for  them  to  follow  up  the  girls  during  the  critical  period 
after  they  leave  the  homes.  As  above  stated,  the  methods  employed 
are  not  sufficiently  modern  to  meet  existing  conditions. 

Very  little  attention  has  been  given  to  this  branch  of  social  work; 
as  yet  no  accepted  technique  has  been  worked  out.  Almost  all  other  i 
kinds  of  philanthropic  and  social  effort  have  been  scientifically  inves- 
tigated, statistics  compiled  and  a serious  study  made  of  the  results.  < 
The  time  has  come  in  which  the  same  investigation  should  be  made  i 
of  the  class  of  agencies  which  attempt  to  serve  this  class  of  women. 
Too  little  interest  is  taken  and  too  little  attention  devoted  to  these  i 
homes.  From  the  neglect  and  lack  of  criticism  has  resulted  the  reten-  . 
tion  of  antiquated  methods  and  ineffectual  management.  The  Russell  i 
Sage  Foundation  could  accomplish  no  more  valuable  work  than  a 
really  exhaustive  and  scientific  investigation  of  the  institutions,  prisons  f 
and  homes  to  which  these  classes  of  women  are  committed  or  to  I 
which  they  go  voluntarily.  The  Commission  recommends  to  the  ij 

Foundation  the  prosecution  of  such  an  inquiry.  i 

I 

The  only  State  reformatory  for  girls,  the  State  Home  at  Geneva,  < 


RESCUE  AND  REFORM 


285 


is  very  much  overcrowded.  On  account  of  this  overcrowding  the 
methods  are  necessarily  more  or  less  those  of  a prison.  This  state- 
ment is  not  intended  as  a reflection  upon  those  responsible  for  the 
management.  They  are  as  much  the  victims  of  circumstances  as 
are  the  unfortunate  inmates.  We  urge  upon  the  proper  State  author-' 
ities  the  need  of  immediate  and  adequate  enlargement  of  this  institu- 
tion or  the  provision  of  others  of  similar  character. 

7.  The  Professional  Prostitute.  The  public  prostitute  who  is  an 
inmate  of  a house  is  an  important  factor  in  the  complicated  problem. 
Into  the  trade  of  these  women  enter  powerful  business  interests,  as 
well  as  the  demoralization  which  comes  to  men  and  women  by  its 
attendant  vices  and  diseases.  The  confirmed  prostitute,  if  she  is  to 
be  reformed  and  helped,  must  be  entirely  separated  for  a long  period 
from  her  former  environment  of  commercialized  prostitution. 

Against  these  powerful  business  interests,  the  liquor  dealer,  the 
house  owner  and  his  agents,  the  man  who  runs  the  place,  the  furnishers 
of  all  sorts  from  the  butcher  and  grocer  to  the  dry  goods  houses  and 
the  supported  men,  against  these  stands  the  girl,  usually  young,  feeble 
of  will,  unskilled  as  a worker,  a lover  of  ease,  perhaps  at  first  de- 
ceived, and  always  after  a time  the  victim  of  liquor,  “dope”  and 
other  stimulants.  One  physician  who  has  a large  practice  in  venereal 
disease  wards,  says : 

“They  all  use  some  drug  or  stimulant  such  as  opium,  tobacco, 
anything  that  is  near ; the  abnormal  habits  of  life,  the  excitement, 
the  terrible  physical  strain  demanded;  the  life  is  against  biology 
as  well  as  sociology;  they  are  in  most  cases  gone  physically, 
gone  nervously,  gone  socially.” 

It  is  obvious  that  the  weaker  factor,  the  girl,  will  be  crushed  in  so 
unequal  a conflict.  On  her  falls  the  ignominy,  the  loss  of  health,  of 
social  position  and  final  physical  and  social  death.  While  the  men 
who  profit  by  this  vice,  live  on,  sleek  and  prosperous — often  so  power- 
ful in  politics  that  even  decent  men  dare  not  expose  them. 

Most  of  these  women  do  not  know  where  to  turn  if  they  should 
I leave  the  house,  and  their  physical  condition  and  mental  state  render 
j them  absolutely  incapable  of  self-direction  or  normal  conduct. 

j A suggestion  well  worthy  of  consideration  is  that  the  municipality 
I secure  a farm  on  which  a trade  school  and  hospital  could  be  estab- 
lished, to  which  prostitutes  found  in  houses  of  ill-fame  could  be  com- 


286 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


mitted  on  indeterminate  sentences.  Obviously  it  is  necessary  that 
measures  of  almost  drastic  control  should  be  established  if  such 
women  are  to  be  helped  permanently  and  society  served.  Yet  society 
should  remember  the  deep  pathos  of  their  evil  estate  as  described  by 
a character  in  a recent  work : 

“These  dubious  divinities  of  the  gaslight  and  the  pavement 
represent  the  eternal  sacrifice  of  woman,  the  tragedy  of  her 
abasement,  her  obedience  to  the  world.” 

Attention  is  called  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Commission, 
page  55. 


Chapter  VII. 


The  Social  Evil  and  Its 
Medical  'Aspects. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


i 

' THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS. 

No  phase  of  the  social  evil  can  be  demonstrated  with  more  scientific 
1,  certainty  than  the  physical  aspect.  It  has  been  clearly  proved  through 
!'  ^ many  and  accurate  sources  that  no  danger  to  the  integrity  of  the  race 
is  so  great  as  the  diseases  which  accompany  prostitution.  The  greatest 
I attention  must  be  paid  to  every  means  which  makes  for  the  control 
of  venereal  diseases  and  of  dissemination  of  reliable  information  con- 
I cerning  them  for  the  protection  of  the  innocent. 

Jj  With  these  facts  in  mind  let  us  study  the  various  classes  of  men  and 
[ women  who  are  involved  in  this  vice. 

I The  Professional  Female  Prostitute.  The  testimony  shows  that 
I the  professional  female  prostitute  is  broken  down  within  ten  years 
I after  she  begins  to  ply  her  trade.  No  better  argument  as  to  physical 
I harm  could  be  offered  than  this  statement.  Practically  all  professional 
I prostitutes  have  had  syphilis  or  gonorrhoea  or  both.  It  is  the  exception 
I when  either  of  these  diseases  is  completely  cured.  During  a certain 
; part  of  the  time  they  are  communicable.  Not  infrequently  these  dis- 
i eases  are  communicable  and  at  the  same  time  difficult  to  recognize. 
Therefore,  a professional  prostitute  having  intercourse  with  from  ten 
to  sixty  men  in  a single  night  will  infect  a large  number  of  men.  Drug 
: habituation  also  is  more  widespread  amongst  prostitutes  than  amongst 
i any  other  class  of  society. 

E Occasional  Prostitutes.  Occasional  prostitutes  are  frequently  in- 
fected with  venereal  disease.  They  are  highly  dangerous  when  so 
I infected.  Venereal  diseases  are  bacterial  in  origin.  From  the  epi- 
I demiologic  standpoint  they  belong  in  the  category  with  smallpox, 
! diphtheria  and  scarlet  fever.  They  cause  most  of  the  sterility,  most 
I'  of  the  peritonitis  in  females,  most  of  the  salpingitis.  They  cause  a 
^ large  part  of  the  joint  inflammations — a large  part  of  the  insanity  and 
I nervous  diseases  and  a long  train  of  diseases  which  go  by  other 
; names  but  have  syphilis  as  an  underlying  factor.  Congenital  defects 
and  deformities  are  largely  syphilitic  in  origin. 

In  spite  of  all  this  a study  of  mortuary  statistics  does  not  give  us 


290 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


much  information,  since  the  immediate  or  determining  cause  is  usually 
some  factor  other  than  the  venereal  disease.  The  group  of  men  who 
are  infected  by  occasional  prostitutes  are  somewhat  more  liable  to 
spread  venereal  disease  to  innocent  women,  children  and  men  than 
those  who  are  infected  by  professional  prostitutes. 

Clandestine  Prostitutes.  Clandestine  prostitutes  spread  infection. 
They  get  peritonitis  and  salpingitis.  They  are  prone  to  have  babies 
born  with  infected  eyes  and  therefore  they  increase  blindness.  They 
are  frequently  sterile.  Amongst  this  and  the  preceding  class  are  most 
of  the  illegitimate  children.  The  death  rate  amongst  illegitimate  chil- 
dren is  barbarously  high.  The  morbidity  rate  amongst  clandestine 
and  occasional  prostitutes  is  higher  than  amongst  moral  women  of 
the  same  age-periods  and  in  the  same  strata  of  society. 

Amongst  the  medical  phases  of  these  forms  of  prostitution  is  their 
tendency  toward  professional  prostitution. 

Male  Prostitutes.  (Principally  perverts.)  They  spread  infection. 
They  have  a high  mortality  and  morbidity  rate.  They  increase  the 
number  of  drug  habitues. 

Occasional  and  Clandestine  Male  Prostitutes.  They  spread  infec- 
tion. An  infected  man  will  not  infect  as  many  people  as  an  infected 
woman,  but  an  infected  woman  usually  infects  non-virtuous  people ; 
a large  part  of  those  infected  by  men  are  virtuous — wives  and  young 
children.  An  infected  man  usually  takes  infection  into  a clean  home 
— an  infected  woman  seldom  does. 

Amongst  male  occasional  and  clandestine  prostitutes  there  is  an 
increase  in  the  morbidity  and  mortality  rate.  The  diseases  caused 
are  in  some  measure  immediate.  Such  as  brain  disease,  insanity, 
paralysis,  kidney  and  heart  disease.  They  are  usually  remote.  They 
spread  infection  of  eyes  and  add  to  blindness.  They  beget  children 
that  are  defective  and  deformed.  Men  given  to  great  sexual  excesses 
die  from  conditions  due  to  those  excesses.  But  the  disability  and  in- 
efficiency caused  by  such  excesses  is  greater  than  its  effect  on  the 
death  rate. 

A consideration  of  the  medical  aspects  of  vice  is  not  complete 
without  reference  to  the  congenital  and  acquired  physical  conditions 
which  tend  towards  prostitution,  the  woman  or  man  being  driven 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


291 


to  it  almost  irresistibly  as  the  result  of  congenital  or  acquired  physical 
conditions. 

Of  more  importance  in  a consideration  of  the  medical  aspects  of 
this  subject  is  the  inefficiency  which  follows  the  increased  morbidity 
and  immorality.  The  short  period  of  self-maintenance  is  followed  by 
the  long  years  of  dependency  in  hospitals  and  poor  houses,  the  spread 
of  contagious  diseases,  the  inherited  defects  and  the  blindness,  the 
syphilis  and  gonorrhoea  amongst  innocent  children. 

The  medical  aspects  of  control  are: 

1.  Registration  of  venereal  disease. 

2.  Segregation  of  the  infectious. 

3.  Supervision  of  candidates  for  marriage. 

4.  Registration  of  births. 

5.  Compulsory  treatment  of  the  eyes  of  newly  born  babes. 

6.  Hospitalization  of  infected  prostitutes. 

7.  Hospitalization  of  those  innocently  infected. 

8.  A study  of  eugenics. 

• VENEREAL  DISEASES. 

How  to  Diminish  Venereal  Diseases.  The  time  is  ripe  for  a united 
attempt  to  diminish  venereal  diseases.  To  accomplish  this  both  sexes 
should  be  taught  the  social  and  personal  dangers  of  the  black  plague, 
far  more  to  be  dreaded  than  the  white  plague — venereal  disease.  They 
should  be  taught  with  emphasis  that  these  diseases,  like  all  other  con- 
tagious diseases,  may  be  innocently  acquired  and  transmitted.  Woman 
peculiarly  needs  such  instruction,  not  only  that  she  may  protect  her- 
self, but  that  she  may  protect  her  child  against  danger  from  those 
to  whose  care  it  may  be  intrusted.  Both  sexes  should  be  so  instructed 
that  they  may  teach  sexual  hygiene  in  all  its  relations.  Innocence  is  too 
I often  dangerous  ignorance.  The  period  of  instruction  should  be  at 
; the  onset  of  adolescence  since  careful  studies  by  Fournier  in  France 
and  Erb  in  Germany  have  shown  that  it  is  about  this  period  that  first 
infection  is  most  likely.  The  work  of  national,  state  and  municipal 
j organizations  with  the  fundamental  aim  of  instruction  in  sexual  hy- 
giene and  sanitation  should  be  encouraged  and  broadened.  The  public 
il  should  be  educated  when  practicable  by  exhibits  as  to  the  results  of 

I venereal  disease,  its  causes  and  germs,  its  methods  of  spreading  and 


292 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


control.  In  this  instruction  the  viewpoint  should  be  that  of  prophylaxis 
and  not  the  impracticable  one  of  creating  terror.  Public  lectures  should 
be  given  at  night  at  social  centers,  at  school,  and  churches,  so  that 
the  parents  of  school  children  can  obtain  information  needed  to  en- 
able them  to  give  proper  instruction  at  home.  Similar  instruction 
should  be  given  the  employes  of  large  business  houses,  manufacturing 
plants,  etc.,  so  that  this  class  which  is  thrown  on  its  own  resources  at 
an  early  age  may  profit  by  this  training.^ 

Infection  of  the  Innocent.  No  marriage  should  be  legal  imless  both 
parties  furnish  certificates  of  health  and  freedom  from  venereal  dis- 
eases given  by  legally  qualified  physicians.  In  these  certificates,  the 
physician  giving  them  should  assume  all  civil  and  criminal  responsi- 
bility for  them.  The  person  officiating  at  a marriage  ceremony  should 
be  obliged  by  law  to  require  such  certificate. 

Infection  of  an  innocent  wife  by  a husband  under  the  common  law 
principle  of  the  Kentucky  decision  in  Hoove  v.  Hoove  is  a criminal 
offense  in  itself  and  unlike  adultery  cannot  be  condoned  by  the  wife. 
Under  the  Canon  law  since  infection  interferes  with  procreation  which 
the  Canon  law  regards  as  essential  to  marriage.  Such  infection  can 
under  the  spirit  of  the  Canon  law  create  annulment  of  marriage,  like 
any  other  factor  of  sterility.  Under  these  principles  the  marital 
limitations  of  evidence  would  be  nullified.  The  penalty  for  such 
infection  should  be  one  which  would  punish  the  criminal  and  not  the 
family  or  the  innocent  wife  as  does  most  of  the  legislation  against 
cruelty,  abandonment  and  like  offenses  involved  in  marital  relations. 

As  quarantine  and  isolation  require  increased  hospital  provision,  espe- 
cially since,  as  shown  by  experience,  police  regulation  is  a failure  so 
far  as  venereal  disease  is  concerned  being  replaced  in  the  Scandinavian  | 
speaking  countries  by  sanitary  supervision  quarantine  and  isolation,  i 
hospital  provision  and  dispensary  facilities  for  the  care  of  venereal  | 
disease  should  be  increased  along  the  lines  shown  to  be  practicable  by  i 
the  English  lock  hospitals.  ^ 

Health  Department  and  Venereal  Diseases.  Under  the  police  powers 
now  granted  by  the  State,  except  where  specifically  limited  by  statute.  , 
the  Department  of  Health  could  quarantine  persons  when  notified  f 


^See  Chapter  V,  “Child  Protection  and  Education,”  page  253. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


293 


j of  venereal  diseases  in  them  by  physicians.  To  secure  proper  en- 
I forcement  of  this  right,  it  should  be  specifically  guaranteed  by  statute, 
i This  should  embody  the  common  law  view  that  venereal  inf^tion  of 

I the  innocent  is  an  assault  with  intent  to  do  bodily  harm,  laid  down 
I,  by  the  English  courts  in  Regina  v.  Taylor,  by  the  Oregon  courts  in 

II  Gets  Mardo  v.  The  People,  by  the  Kentucky  courts  in  Hoove  v.  Hoove, 
f and  by  courts  in  other  states  where  the  principles  of  the  common  law 
1 obtain.  That  the  Health  Department  must  have  the  power  under  this 

principle  now  practically  denied  it,  is  shown  by  the  existence  of  folk- 
, lore  beliefs  peculiarly  affecting  the  venereal  diseases,  that  one  can  get 
rid  of  a disease  by  infecting  an  innocent  person.  Under  this  belief 
rapes  have  been  committed  which  have  sometimes,  but  very  rarely, 
led  to  penitentiary  sentences.  Another  great  danger  against  which  the 
i;  Health  Department  requires  power  to  guard,  is  that  pointed  out  by 
1 Isadore  Dyer  before  the  International  Congress  on  Venereal  Disease 
t at  Brussels  in  1899.  A harlot  infected  with  syphilis  refused  to  be 
treated  until  she  had  infected  five  hundred  men  in  revenge  for  her 
■I  own  infection.  When  seen  by  Dyer  she  had  infected  two  hundred 
i men  who  in  all  probability  later  infected  at  least  the  same  number 
1 of  persons.  In  Louisiana,  where  this  occurred,  the  Code  Napoleon 
' voices  the  Roman  law  with  its  supremacy  of  the  State,  yet  statutory 
I limitation  prevented  interference  with  this  woman’s  revenge  on 
! society. 

; That  the  Health  Department  should  have  the  right  to  inspect  prosti- 
ll tutes  by  a legal  extension  of  the  right  granted  it  to  inspect  other  per- 
n sons  exposed  to  contagious  disease.  This  will  require  an  amendment 
I of  the  statute  which  interferes  with  the  logical  right  of  the  Health 
Department  in  this  particular.  To  secure  proper  inspection  the  fact 
I should  be  recognized  that  experience  in  despotic  and  theocratic  govern- 
ments has  shown  that  suppression  of  prostitution  has  often  driven  it 
into  the  mass  of  the  community  making  it  take  the  peculiarly  dangerous 
clandestine  type.  The  existence  of  venereal  diseases  among  people 
. is  much  underestimated.  There  are  credible  statistics  to  show  that 
' one-half  of  the  population  of  civilized  countries  have  had  or  have 
; gonorrhoea,  and  that  from  one-fifth  to  one-tenth  have  had  syphilis. 
I'  Not  infrequently  gonorrhoea  produces  many  dangers,  constitutional 
'^  results  and  exerts  a very  decided  influence  in  the  production  of  many 


294 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


female  disorders.  It  underlies  many  cases  of  what  are  called  rheu-  | 
matism  and  joint  disorders.  It  is  an  exceedingly  common  cause  of  i 
blindness  in  the  new  born.  According  to  German  statistics,  30,000  '■{ 
cases  of  blindness  in  that  country  are  due  to  gonorrhoea.  According  ‘j 
to  recent  statistics  much  of  the  sterility  in  the  male  is  due  to  gonor-  |- 
rhoea.  About  40  per  cent,  of  the  cases  in  women  result  from  gon-  ' 
orrhoea  as  a determining  cause.  Gonorrhoea  is  very  easily  spread  from  j 
the  fact  that  nostrum  advertisements  and  popular  beliefs  practically  j 
teach  it  is  simply  a catarrh.  This  has  led  to  the  belief  that  female  ; 
discharges  due  to  gonorrhoea  are  often  what  is  called  “whites,”  and  ; 
therefore  not  likely  to  occasion  disease  in  other  persons.  The  germ 
of  gonorrhoea  may  infect  any  mucous  membrane  with  which  it  may  in 
any  manner  come  in  contact.  This  has  been  the  source  of  gonorrhoea 
epidemic  in  little  children,  so  that  in  infant  hospitals  gonorrhoea  has 
required  special  observation  and  care  to  prevent  its  spread.  The 
local  instillation  of  silver  in  the  eye  of  the  new  bom,  while  yielding  f 
good  results,  has  not  been  quite  the  success  which  it  was  claimed,  i 
The  employment  of  ignorant  midwives  had  been  a factor  in  this  ; 
case.  To  some  extent  this  indicates  the  registration  and  license  : 
of  all  hospitals  where  women  are  confined,  whether  designated  ma-  • 
ternity  hospitals  or  not.  The  registration  of  venereal  diseases  could  i 
be  best  effected  through  making  the  names  of  the  afflicted  a strict  i 
matter  of  confidence  with  both  the  physician  reporting  and  the  Health  i 
Department.  The  statute  which  obtains  in  some  States  forbidding  j 
the  revelation  of  information  given  by  a patient  to  a physician  that  | 
is  necessary  to  enable  him  to  treat  the  patient  unless  the  confidence  t 
is  waived  by  the  patient,  should  be  amended  in  this  State  so  as  to  t 

f 

extend  to  venereal  diseases  and  to  the  officials  of  the  Health  Depart-  ' 
ment. 

Hospitals  and  Venereal  Diseases.  The  Cook  County  Hospital  has  ! 
40  beds  for  male  cases  and  40  beds  for  female  cases.  This  at  present 
is  the  only  institution  to  which  these  patients  can  be  sent  for  treat- 
ment. At  this  hospital  is  a small  isolation  building  with  a capacity  i 
of  40  beds  for  the  care  of  the  children  suffering  from  gonorrhoeal 
vaginitis.  This  is  always  filled.  The  Alexian  Brothers’  Hospital  is 
the  only  one  in  the  city  receiving  pay  patients  which  receives  venereal 
cases  without  objection.  There  should  be  at  least  one  bed  set  apart 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


295 


for  these  cases  for  every  2,000  of  the  population.  The  hospitals 
and  dispensaries  should  be  instructed  to  issue  educational  leaflets  in- 
forming patients  as  to  the  means  of  preventing  and  spreading  the 
disease  and  of  its  dangers,  such  as  are  now  issued  in  regard  to  tuber- 
culosis. The  value  of  the  laboratory  methods  while  great,  is  not 
fully  settled.  There  are  many  diseases  varying  from  scarlet  fever  to 
leprosy  and  some  forms  of  anaemia  that  give  the  Wassermann  re- 
action. It  also  occurs  with  certain  patients  subjected  to  some  anaes- 
thetics. For  this  reason,  since  a question  of  criminality  is  involved, 
too  great  stress  cannot  legally  be  laid  on  this  form  of  detecting 
syphilis.  The  bacteriologic  and  protozoologic  methods  of  detecting 
the  germs  when  properly  done,  are,  of  course,  decisive.  This  is  par- 
ticularly true  of  gonorrhoea. 


Inheritance  of  Venereal  Diseases.  In  the  inheritance  of  venereal 
diseases,  two  factors  are  involved,  the  direct  infection  of  the  foetus, 
and  the  arrest  of  its  development.  The  last  occurs  with  both  gonor- 
rhoea and  syphilis,  since  the  infant  of  gonorrhoeal  mother  shows  more 
decrease  in  weight  after  birth  than  do  healthy  infants.  The  arrested 
development  cases  may  produce  any  of  the  forms  of  brain  or  organ 
disorders  which  result  from  defects  in  structures  in  function  or  form. 
Of  course,  environment  turns  largely  on  the  question  of  parentage. 
All  other  things  being  equal,  defective  parentage  will  give  rise  to  a 
defective  environment.  The  majority  of  defectives  are  a product 
not  of  heredity  directly,  but  of  arrested  development  due  to  defect. 
In  this  the  mother  plays  a larger  part  than  the  father  since  the  ovum 
before  fecundation  is  the  chief  factor  in  the  future  being,  while  the 
ovum  after  fecundation  is  nourished  by  her  alone,  and  the  child 
when  born  is  nourished  by  her  alone  for  some  time  after  birth. 
While  paternal  defect  plays  a large  part,  much  of  its  alleged  influence 
is  due  to  the  bad  environment  in  which  it  keeps  the  mother.  The 
mass  of  prostitutes,  as  has  been  shown  in  this  country,  in  Italy, 
in  France,  in  Russia,  and  in  Germany,  belong  to  the  defectives. 

Sex  Perversion.  While  the  subject  of  sex  perversion  is  included  un- 
der the  heading  of  this  chapter  it  must  be  understood  that,  correctly 
speaking,  it  should  come  under  the  subject  of  crime  and  be  treated  as 
such.  The  law  specifically  states  that  these  practices  are  “infamous 
crimes”  and  provides  certain  punishments,  among  which  is  the  loss  of 


296 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


citizenship.  Because  no  chapter  was  devoted  to  crime  it  was  decided 
to  incorporate  this  subject  in  the  report  where  it  now  stands. 

At  the  very  outset  of  the  Commission’s  investigation,  its  attention 
was  called  by  several  persons  to  a condition  of  affairs  with  regard  to 
sexual  perversion'  which  was  said  to  be  enormously  prevalent  and 
growing  in  Chicago.  In  reporting  their  impression  of  their  work  on 
the  Municipal  bench  at  the  Harrison  street  court,  Judges  (X1270a) 
and  (X1270b)  said  that  the  most  striking  thing  they  had  observed 
in  the  last  year  was  the  great  increase  of  sex  perversion  in  Chicago. 
Police  officers  state  the  same  thing.  The  testimony  of  others,  and 
the  results  of  investigations  by  the  Commission  corroborate  these 
statements.  The  Commission  already  had  considerable  information, 
including  estimates  which  seemed  incredible  before  an  investigator 
was  put  in  the  field  to  find  out  the  nature  and  extent  of  this  form 
of  vice. 

It  must  be  understood  that  under  the  law,  the  perpetrators  of 
these  various  forms  of  sexual  perversion  can  be  regarded  as  those 
who  may  be  punished  by  application  of  Section  47,  Chapter  38,  of  the 
Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  the  wording  of  which  remains 
unchanged  since  the  statutes  were  revised  in  1845. 

“The  infamous  crime  against  nature,  either  with  man  or  beast, 
shall  subject  the  offender  to  be  punished  by  imprisonment,  in  the 
penitentiary  for  a term  not  more  than  ten  years.”^ 

The  Commission’s  investigator  was,  of  course,  unable  to  gain  en- 
trance into  those  circles  of  the  well-to-do,  which  are  engaged  in 
these  practices,  nor  did  he  concern  himself  with  the  lowest  stratum 
of  society,  which  is  the  class  most  observable  in  our  courts.  Nor 
did  he  gain  any  information  about  the  much  more  occasional  cases 
among  women,  of  which  the  Commission  heard  something  from  other 
sources.  He  most  readily,  however,  became  acquainted  with  whole 
groups  and  colonies  of  these  men  who  are  sex  perverts,  but  who  do 
not  fall  in  the  hands  of  the  police  on  account  of  their  practices,  and 
who  are  not  known  in  their  true  character  to  any  extent  by  physicians 
because  of  the  fact  that  their  habits  do  not,  as  a rule,  produce  bodily 
disease.  It  is  noteworthy  that  the  details  of  information  gained  from 
a police  officer,  who  was  once  detailed  on  this  work,  and  from  a young 


^Appendix  XXXV. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


297 


professional  student,  who  himself,  for  a time,  has  been  partially  en- 
gaged in  this  practice,  were  completely  substantiated  by  the  Commis- 
sion’s investigator. 

It  appears  that  in  this  community  there  is  a large  number  of  men 
who  are  thoroughly  gregarious  in  habit;  who  mostly  affect  the  car- 
riage, mannerisms,  and  speech  of  women;  who  are  fond  of  many 
articles  ordinarily  dear  to  the  feminine  heart;  who  are  often  people 
of  a good  deal  of  talent ; who  lean  to  the  fantastic  in  dress  and  other 
modes  of  expression,  and  who  have  a definite  cult  with  regard  to 
sexual  life.  They  preach  the  value  of  non-association  with  women 
from  various  standpoints  and  yet  with  one  another  have  practices 
which  are  nauseous  and  repulsive.  Many  of  them  speak  of  themselves 
or  each  other  with  the  adoption  of  feminine  terms,  and  go  by  girls’ 
names  or  fantastic  application  of  women’s  titles.  They  have  a vo- 
cabulary and  signs  of  recognition  of  their  own,  which  serve  as  an 
introduction  into  their  own  society.  The  cult  has  produced  some 
literature,  much  of  which  is  incomprehensible  to  one  who  cannot  read 
between  the  lines,  and  there  is  considerable  distribution  among  them 
of  pernicious  photographs. 

In  one  of  the  large  music  halls  recently,  a much  applauded  act  was 
that  of  a man  who  by  facial  expression  and  bodily  contortion  repre- 
sented sex  perversion,  a most  disgusting  performance.  It  was  evi- 
dently not  at  all  understood  by  many  of  the  audience,  but  others  wildly 
applauded.  Then,  one  of  the  songs  recently  ruled  off  the  stage  by  the 
police  department  was  inoffensive  to  innocent  ears,  but  was  really 
written  by  a member  of  the  cult,  and  replete  with  suggestiveness  to 
those  who  understood  the  language  of  this  group. 

Some  of  these  men  impersonate  women  on  the  cheap  vaudeville 
stage,  in  connection  with  disorderly  saloons.  Their  disguise  is  so 
perfect,  they  are  enabled  to  sit  at  tables  with  men  between  the  acts, 
and  solicit  for  drinks  the  same  as  prostitutes. 

Two  of  these  “female  impersonators”  were  recently  seen  in  one 
of  the  most  notorious  saloons  on  (X1262c)  street.  These  “supposed” 
women  solicited  for  drinks,  and  afterwards  invited  the  men  to  rooms 
over  the  saloon  for  pervert  practices. 

The  Commission  hesitates  about  making  recommendations  for  the 
specific  amelioration  of  the  evils  which  it  has  learned  about.  It  de- 


298 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


sires,  however,  to  insist  that  first  and  foremost,  as  a remedy  stands 
the  thoroughly  practical  ideal  of  a straight  and  pure  sexual  life  both 
before  and  after  marriage. 

With  regard  to  sex  perversion,  it  appears  that  the  law  framed  in 
1845  should  more  definitely  recognize  the  dangers  of  this  latter  day 
growth  of  degenerate  traits.  It  should  be  so  altered  and  made  specific, 
under  the  guidance  of  scientific  men  who  understand  these  practices, 
as  to  make  it  clearly  understood  that  society  regards  these  abhorrent 
deeds  as  crimes.  Better  definition  would  probably  make  it  more  pos- 
sible to  readily  obtain  conviction  when  desirable. 

It  would  appear  very  doubtful,  however,  whether  any  spread  of  the 
actual  knovt^ledge  of  these  practices  is  in  any  way  desirable.  Prob- 
ably the  purity  and  wholesomeness  of  the  normal  sexual  relationship 
is  all  that  is  necessary  to  dwell  on. 

Ravages  of  Venereal  Diseases.  The  following  extracts  from  vari- 
ous authorities  show  the  ravages  of  venereal  diseases : 

“If  the  whole  tale  were  told,  the  physician  must  shoulder  no 
small  share  of  the  moral  responsibility  for  the  prevalence  of  | 
libertinism  in  America,  whether  we  mean  by  this  term  that  form 
permitted  and  sanctioned  in  high  life  by  the  divorce  court,  or, 
among  both  high  and  lowly,  the  crime  of  the  brothel.  The  phy- 
sician, at  least,  has  a thorough  knowledge  of  the  consequences  of  j 
both  forms  of  immorality,  as  shown  in  retrograde  and  degenerate  i 
processes  in  the  human  economy.  From  such  a mother  influence 
and  environment  sprang  the  famous  family  of  Jukes  in  New  York 
State,  one  vicious  couple,  with  1,200  direct  descendants  or  off- 
spring, all  traced,  of  whom  300  died  in  infancy,  300  were  paupers, 
seven  were  murderers,  50  prostitutes,  60  thieves,  130  general 
criminals,  400  early  physical  wrecks,  and  many  imbecile  or  insane. 

“There  are  about  200,000  luetic  subjects  in  New  York  City 
and  probably  four  times  that  number,  (800,000),  cases  of  gonor- 
rhoea. While  all  prostitutes  are  considered  gonorrhoeic  sub- 
jects, it  is  estimated  that  every  fourth  one  is  qualified  to  transmit 
syphilis. 

“In  Prussia  there  are  annually  773,000  venereal  cases. 

“Seventy  per  cent,  of  1,155  cases  treated  (mostly  venereal) 
at  Hot  Springs,  had  at  the  time  of  examination,  or  had  had 
gonorrhoea. 

“Of  60,000  soldiers  in  the  Philippine  service,  10,000  were  cases 
of  venereal  diseases. 

“Blindness.  Between  10  and  20  per  cent,  of  all  cases  of  infan- 
tile blindness  are  due  to  gonorrhoea.  Statistics  of  the  German 
Empire  for  1894  show  80  per  cent,  of  all  children  born  with 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


299 


healthy  eyes,  who  became  blind,  did  so  as  the  result  of  trans- 
mitted gonorrhoea.”  The  Social  Evil  in  America,  Willson, 
1905,  page  80. 

“1.  Ophthalmia  neonatorum  furnishes  10.8  per  cent,  of  the 
blind — a larger  proportion  than  any  other  single  cause.  Blindness 
from  this  cause  means  an  entire  life  of  blindness. 

“2.  Acquired  blindness,  (a)  Gonorrhoeal  conjunctivitis  forms 

0.9  per  cent,  of  all  acquired  blindness,  (b)  Diseases  of  the  eyes 
from  syphilis  form  0.4  per  cent,  of  acquired  blindness.  Refer- 
ence Handbook  of  the  Medical  Sciences,  1901,  page  9. 

“Noeggerath  states  that  50  per  cent,  of  sterile  women  owe 
their  sterility  to  gonorrhoea. 

“Sanger  says  that  abortion  occurs  as  frequently  owing  to 
gonorrhoea  as  it  does  as  the  result  of  lues. 

“Noeggerath  cites  the  cases  of  53  women  pregnant  during 
gonorrhoea,  of  whom  19  aborted. 

“Fruhingsholtz  cites  101  cases,  of  which  23  aborted,  and  seven 
went  into  premature  labor. 

“Price,  of  Philadelphia,  says  that  of  1,000  abdominal  oper- 
ations in  women,  95  per  cent,  were  the  result  of  conditions  due 
to  gonorrhoea. 

“German  Empire  statistics  of  1894  showed  80  per  cent,  women 
who  died  of  uterine  and  ovarian  diseases.  The  Social  Evil  in 
America,  Wilson,  1905,  page  80. 

1.  Thirty  per  cent,  of  venereal  infections  of  women  in  private 
practice  in  New  York  City,  are  communicated  by  the  husband. 

2.  Fournier  states  that  in  France  5 per  cent,  of  luetic  women 
were  infected  during  marriage. 

3.  Morrow,  of  New  York,  states  that  70  per  cent,  of  all 
women  in  New  York  Hospital  for  treatment  of  venereal  trouble 
were  respectable  married  women  infected  by  their  husbands. 

4.  Gonorrhoea  cause  of  abortion.  Of  53  pregnancies,  19 
aborted.  (Noeggerath.) 

5.  In  one  year  not  less  than  2,000  women  in  England  and 
Wales  had  their  entire  procreative  organs  removed  owing  to 
disease. 

6.  Sterility  in  women  due  to  gonorrhoea,  45  per  cent.  (Neis- 
ser.)  Race  Culture  or  Race  Suicide,  1906,  Robert  Rentoul, 
M.  D.,  page  113. 

Female  Sterility. 

1.  General  accepted  ratio  among  civilized  nations  of  sterility 
is  11  per  cent. 

2.  In  1900  sterility  among  native  born  white  women  U.  S. 
was  20  per  cent. 

3.  Two  children  to  a family  in  the  United  States. 

4.  A healthy  woman  living  in  wedlock  all  of  her  child  bearing 
life,  under  favorable  circumstances  for  natural  procreation, 
should  have  a family  of  ten  children. 


300 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


5.  A woman  who  has  been  married  three  years  without  con- 
ception, and  no  preventive  used,  may  be  presumed  to  be  sterile. 

6.  The  average  ratio  of  unfruitful  marriages  is  1 in  10.  (Dun- 
can of  Great  Britain.) 

7.  The  male  has  been  stated  at  fault  in  percentages  from 
16  2-3  to  70  per  cent.  Reference  Handbook  of  the  Medical 
Sciences,  1904,  page  455. 


ARMY  STATISTICS  INDICATIVE  OF  THE  PREVALENCE  OF  VENEREAL  DIS- 
EASES IN  DIFFERENT  COUNTRIES. 


Number  of  Venereal  Cases  admitted  to  treatment  in  each  1,000  ap- 
plying for  hospital  treatment. 


Year 

Syph- 

ilis 

Chan- 

croids 

Gonor- 

rhoea 

Total 

Venereal 

U.  S.  Army 

1908 

26.40 

32.19 

135.56 

194.13 

U.  S.  Army 

1909 

26.49 

28.23 

105.11 

159.84 

Prussian  Army  

1907 

4.4 

2.1 

12.2 

18.7 

Bavarian  Army 

1907 

3.3 

0.97 

10.9 

15.1 

PREVENTIVE  MEASURES  AGAINST  VENEREAL  DISEASES  AND  RESULTS  OB- 
TAINED. 

Administrative  Measures.  The  remarkable  progressive  reduction 
in  the  ratio  of  venereal  disease  in  the  British  Army  is  shown  in  the 
following  tables: 


CASE  RATIO  OF  VENEREAL  DISEASE. 

Ratio  per  1,000  of  strength. 


Year 

Home  Army 

Indian  Army 

1884 

270.7 

293.9 

1908 

68.4 

69.8 

Notes  on  Administrative  Against  Enthetic  Disease,  H.  M.  Vilson, 
M.  D.,  London,  Appendix  B. 

In  the  British  Army  in  India,  Lord  Kitchener,  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  issued  a leaflet  to  every  soldier  in  the  army,  with  instruction 


tHfi  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


301 


that  it  be  carried  in  his  small  book  of  instructions  for  constant  refer- 
ence. This  order  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  warned  the  soldier 
against  the  dangers  from  venereal  disease,  emphasized  the  importance 
of  a moral  sex  life,  the  soldier’s  duty  to  himself,  his  regiment,  and 
his  government,  not  to  disable  himself  through  venereal  contamina- 
tion. It  also  recommended  proper  recreation,  study  or  work  for  his 
leisure  hours.  In  addition  to  this  leaflet,  the  army,  the  church  people, 
and  philanthropic  agencies  endeavored  to  supply  the  soldiers  with 
proper  amusement,  and  an  opportunity  for  helpful  work  or  study. 
The  consequence  of  this  movement,  at  least  to  a great  extent,  was  a 
notable  reduction  in  the  amount  of  venereal  disease  in  the  British 
Army  in  India.  To  be  explicit.  In  1884  the  English  laws  permitted 
the  medical  inspection  of  prostitutes  in  Great  Britain  and  India.  At 
that  time  the  number  of  venereal  cases  in  England  was  270  per 
thousand  soldiers,  in  the  Indian  army  293  per  thousand;  in  1908,  the 
number  of  venereal  cases  in  the  home  army  was  68.4  and  in  the  In- 
dian army  69.8  per  thousand.  The  record  of  the  intervening  years 
shows  a marked  decrease  from  the  date  of  issuing  of  Lord  Kitch- 
ener’s instructions  to  the  soldiers.  The  law  permitting  army  officials 
or  others  to  examine  prostitutes  was  repealed  in  1886.  The  effort 
to  introduce  a moral  influence  was  not  attempted  in  India  until  1897. 
Lord  Kitchener  enlarged  and  extended  the  efforts  of  his  predecessors 
from  that  date  on,  and  a marked  improvement  in  the  condition  of 
the  soldiers  was  noted.  Prior  thereto,  the  percentage  of  diseased 
soldiers  was  as  high  as  522  per  thousand  in  1895.  Consequently,  the 
drop  to  69  per  thousand  in  1908  deserves  special  notice. 

! In  the  American  army,  similar  efforts  have  recently  been  intro- 
I duced,  though  in  some  posts  more  effort  is  placed  on  medical  pre- 
I ventives  or  cures  than  on  moral  influence.  While  everything  should 
I be  done  to  prevent  disease,  or  to  cure  it  after  contracted,  experience 
J shows  that  the  best  results  have  never  been  accomplished  without  the 
assistance  of  moral  and  educational  influences,  and  the  endeavor  to  in- 
culcate self  control  on  the  part  of  the  men. 

Prophylaxis.  “The  researches  carried  out  in  Erance  by  Metch- 
nikoff  and  Roux  on  syphilis,  in  Germany  by  Neisser  on  gonor- 
rhoea, have  shown  that  these  two  infections  can  be  prevented  in 
a great  number  of  cases. 


302 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


These  proofs  are  of  considerable  practical  importance.  They 
furnish  fresh  arms  for  contending  against  the  venereal  peril. 

In  regard  to  this  matter,  it  is  indispensable  to  take,  in  the  army, 
every  necessary  prophylactic  measure. 

In  a matter  of  this  kind,  one  must  put  aside  all  prejudice.  It 
concerns  the  public  health,  the  preservation  of  the  race,  even  i 
the  peace  of  families,  so  that  no  precaution  should  be  neglected 
in  order  to  stop  venereal  infection. 

Moreover,  the  morality  of  individuals  has  never  gained  any-  | 
thing  by  ignorance  or  dissimulation.  It  is  only  doing  a social  | 
duty  to  instruct  the  young  soldiers  about  certain  dangers  which 
threaten  them,  and  to  provide  them  with  the  means  of  avoiding 

^ as  much  as  possible  the  consequences  when  they  are  exposed  to 
them.” 

H.  N.  Robson,  Social  Disease  and  Its  Prevention,  London, 
Simpkin,  Marshall  Hamilton,  Kent  and  Co.,  Limited,  1909. 

I 

Prcvmtive  Measures  in  United  States  Army.  “Among  the  measures  , 
which  have  been  found  most  successful  in  other  services  in  controlling  | 
this  disease  have  been  the  following; 

1.  The  organization  of  soldiers’  clubs,  canteens,  etc.,  where  en- 
listed men  can  find  amusement  and  recreation  sufficiently  attractive  to 
keep  them  at  home  and  away  from  vile  resorts. 

2.  The  formation  of  temperance  associations  among  the  enlisted 
men,  the  association  of  intemperance  and  venereal  indulgence  being 
well  understood. 

3.  The  early  detection  of  all  cases  of  venereal  diseases  by  peri- 
odical physical  examination  of  the  men  stripped. 

4.  Keeping  all  cases  of  venereal  disease  under  continuous  ob- 
servation and  treatment  until  they  are  cured.  For  this  purpose, 
venereal  registers  are  kept,*  and  a case  once  on  the  books  is  never 
lost  sight  of  until  cured.  Should  a man  be  transferred  while  under 
treatment  to  another  post  or  station,  his  venereal  history  goes  with 
him. 

5.  Instruction  of  the  men  by  lectures  and  by  informal  advice 
whenever  the  opportunity  offers  as  to  the  nature  of  venereal  dis- 
eases, the  extent  of  their  prevalence  among  prostitutes,  and  the  grave 
peril  not  only  to  those  who  contract  them,  but  to  their  families  and 
posteritv.  They  should  also  be  taught  that  sexual  intercourse  is  not 
necessary  to  good  health  and  the  highest  degree  of  mental  and  physical 
vigor. 

6.  Approved  measures  of  personal  prophylaxis  of  those  who  will, 


303 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  ANH  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 

contrary  to  advice,  expose  themselves  to  venereal  infection.  All  the 
principal  European  armies,  ivith  the  exception  of  that  of  Great 
Britain,  have  officially  authorized  or  directed  the  use  of  such  prophy- 
lactic measures,  and  a considerable  degree  of  success  has  attended 
their  use.  In  some  of  the  Austrian  garrisons  this  system  is  said  to 
have  effected  a decrease  of  62  per  cent,  in  the  cases  of  venereal  dis- 
ease. In  the  German  army  equally  good  results  have  been  reported. 
The  general  procedure  in  all  the  armies  is  about  the  same,  though 
there  are  slight  differences  in  the  details,  especially  in  regard  to  the 
particular  antiseptic  employed. 

The  importance  of  personal  cleanliness  was  emphasized  and  sug- 
gestions made  for  the  providing  of  appropriate  prophylactic  prepara- 
tions where  they  would  be  accessible  to  men  who  desired  to  use 
them.” 

Report  of  the  Surgeon-General  of  the  United  States  Army  to  the 
Secretary  of  War,  1910,  pp.  60  and  62. 

Results  of  Examinations.  “My  Dear  Colleague:  Police-President 
Kottig  has  just  sent  me  your  letter,  which  arrived  today,  and  re- 
quests me  to  give  an  answer  to  it.  I am  sorry  to  say  that,  owing  to 
the  short  period  of  time  at  our  disposal  (I  had  asked  to  have  his 
answer  by  October  12),  I shall  be  unable  to  give  you  the  desired  data, 
since  the  entire  material,  the  publication  of  which  was  planned  for 
the  International  Exposition  of  Hygiene,  which  takes  place  next 
year,  is  still  in  course  of  arrangement.  On  the  whole,  however,  I 
can  inform  you  that,  since  the  introduction  of  these  methods  of  ex- 
amination which  you  witnessed  with  us,  the  number  of  cases  of  dis- 
ease has  become  so  minutely  small  it  is  no  longer  possible  to  advance 
an  earnest  argument  against  the  justifiability  of  our  regulations.” 

Social  Diseases,  Vol.  1,  No.  4.  Letter  to  Dr.  Bierhoff  from  Police- 
Surgeon  Winkler  of  Dresden. 

Dr.  Fournier  says : 

“Supervision  must  be  humane;  that  is,  must  be  free  from  the 
persecutions  of  an  intolerant  discipline,  and  from  all  punishment; 
in  a word,  from  all  requirements  which  simply  exasperate  women 
and  compel  them  to  shake  off  an  odious  yoke,  to  the  great  detriment 
of  the  public  health.  The  women  under  restraint  by  reason  of  con- 
tagious disease  should  be  treated  as  sick,  and  not  as  criminal  per- 
sons, with  all  the  kindness  which  is  due  any  sick  person.  They 
should  not  be  kept  in  a prison  but  in  a special  asylum,  until  a cer- 
tificate of  health  is  given.  Moral  influences  should  be  used  during  the 
stay  in  the  asylum ; a trade  should  be  taught  by  which  the  woman 
can  earn  an  honest  living,  and  she  should  then  be  encouraged  and 
helped  to  lead  a better  life.  Perhaps  a more  authoritative  and  com- 
petent representation  of  the  system  of  reglementation  could  not  be 
furnished.” 

The  Eighth  Yearbook  of  the  National  Society  for  the  Scientific 
Study  of  Education,  1909,  part  1,  page  55. 


304 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Examination  of  Prostitutes  by  the  Board  of  Health. 

1.  Physical  examination.  ’ 

2.  Laboratory  examination. 

3.  Gonorrhoea,  discharges  by  microscope  for  gonococci. 

4.  Syphilis ; microscopic  examination  for  spirochaetae. 

(a)  Wassermann  blood  test  for  syphilis. 

5.  Quarantine : in  hospitals. 

(a)  In  homes  when  under  age. 

6.  Notification  of  venereal  diseases  to  the  Department  of  Health. 
Physicians  should  be  supplied  with  blank  forms.  They  should  fill  these 
out,  as  in  case  of  other  contagious  diseases,  omitting  the  name’ of 
the  patient.  When  the  physician  is  convinced  that  the  patient  is 
spreading  the  disease,  the  name  should  be  supplied  to  the  Department 
of  Health,  as  such  conduct  is  a menace  to  the  public  health. 

7.  The  names  of  all  infected  persons  should  be  supplied  to  the 
Department  of  Health,  as  the  nature  of  their  occupation  insures  the 
spread  of  disease. 

SUMMARY. 

1.  In  order  to  diminish  the  spread  of  venereal  diseases,  both 
sexes  should  be  taught  the  social  and  personal  dangers  that  surround 
them. 

2.  No  marriages  should  be  legal  unless  both  parties  furnish  cer- 
tificates of  health  and  freedom  from  venereal  diseases  given  by  legally 
qualified  physicians. 

, 3.  The  Department  of  Health  should  have  power  to  quarantine  per- 
sons afflicted  with  venereal  diseases. 

(a)  The  Department  of  Health  should  have  the  right  to  inspect  in- 
fected persons. 

4.  There  is  only  one  hospital  in  Cook  County  where  venereal 
patients  can  be  sent  for  treatment  free  of  charge. 

5.  There  is  only  one  other  hospital  in  Chicago  where  pay  venereal 
disease  patients  may  be  received  without  objection. 

(a)  There  should  be  at  least  one  bed  set  apart  for  these  cases  for 
every  2,000  of  the  population. 

6.  In  the  inheritance  of  venereal  diseases,  two  factors  are  in- 
volved, the  direct  infection  of  the  foetus  and  the  arrest  of  its  devel- 
opment. 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  AND  ITS  MEDICAL  ASPECTS 


305 


7.  The  mass  of  prostitutes  in  this  and  other  countries  belong  to 
the  defectives. 

8.  The  sexual  perverts  also  belong  to  the  defectives. 

9.  Much  of  the  moral  responsibility  for  the  prevalence  of  lib- 
ertinism in  America  rests  upon  the  physician. 

10.  The  ravages  of  venereal  diseases  are  past  comprehension. 
Among  the  results  mentioned  are: 

(a)  Criminals. 

(b)  Blindness. 

(c)  Sterility. 

(d)  Abortion. 

(e)  Abdominal  operations. 

(f)  Uterine  and  ovarian  disease. 

(g)  Death  at  an  early  age. 

11.  Army  statistics  show  that  there  are  more  cases  of  venereal 
diseases  among  the  soldiers  in  the  United  States  army  where  there  is 
no  legal  control,  than  among  soldiers  in  foreign  countries  where  con- 
trol is  exercised. 

12.  It  is  estimated  there  were  over  30,000  public  prostitutes  in 
New  York  City  (1897). 

(a)  Rates  of  mortality  among  children  of  these  prostitutes  is 
greater  than  ordinary  ratio  among  children. 

(b)  Average  duration  of  prostitute’s  life,  four  years.^ 

(c)  Nearly  one-half  of  the  prostitutes  in  New  York  City  , are  or 
have  been  luetics. 

(d)  Destitution  or  poverty  is  said  to  be  the  greatest  cause  of  pros- 
titution, inclination  next. 

13.  Administrative  measures  have  reduced  the  amount  of  venereal 
diseases  among  European  troops  in  India. 

14.  Infection  from  gonorrhoea  and  syphilis  can  be  prevented  in 
a great  number  of  cases. 

15.  Preventive  measures  are  now  being  introduced  among  the 
soldiers  in  the  United  States  army. 

16.  The  modern  program  for  the  reduction  of  venereal  diseases 
should  command  the  support  of  the  majority  of  medical  men. 

^This  estimate  is  too  low.  It  is  now  thought  to  be  from  five  to  ten 
years. 


306 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


(a)  This  program  of  action  is  to  reduce  the  physical  evils  of 
prostitution. 

17.  The  examination  of  infected  persons  by  the  Department  of  i 
Health  should  include;  j 

(a)  Physical.  I 

(b)  Laboratory.  ; 

(c)  Gonorrhoea,  by  microscope.  ' 

(d)  Syphilis,  by  microscope  and  Wassermann  blood  test.  ' 

(e)  Quarantine  in  hospitals. 

( 1 ) In  homes  when  under  age. 

(f)  Notification  of  venereal  diseases  to  Department  of  ‘Health.  ' 

(g)  Names  of  all  infected  persons  supplied  to  Department  of 
Health. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  recommendations  of  the  Commission,  page 
55. 


Appendices. 


Text  of  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  and  Ordinances 
of  the  City  of  Chicago, 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


309 


APPENDIX  I. 

Disorderly  House — House  of  Ill-Fame.  Hurd’s  Revised  Stat- 
utes of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  38,  Section  57. 

Section  57.  Whoever  keeps,  or  maintains  a house  of  ill-fame 
or  place  for  the  practice  of  prostitution  or  lewdness,  or  whoever  pat- 
ronizes the  same,  or  lets  any  house,  room  or  other  premises  for  any 
such  purpose,  or  shall  keep  a common,  ill-governed  and  disorderly 
house,  to  the  encouragement  of  idleness,  gaming,  drinking,  fornica- 
tion or  other  misbehavior,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  $200.  When 
the  lessee  or  keeper  of  a dwelling  house  or  other  building  is  convicted 
under  this  section,  the  lease  or  contract  for  letting  the  premises  shall, 
at  the  option  of  the  lessor,  become  void,  and  the  lessor  may  have  the 
like  remedy  to  recover  the  possession  as  against  a tenant  holding 
over  after  the  expiration  of  his  term.  And  whoever  shall  lease  to 
another  any  house,  room  or  other  premises,  in  whole  or  in  part,  for 
any  of  the  uses  or  purposes  finable  under  this  section,  or  knowingly 
permits  the  same  to  be  so  used  or  occupied,  shall  be  fined  not  ex- 
ceeding $200,  and  the  house  or  premises  so  leased,  occupied  or  used 
shall  be  held  liable  for  and  may  be  sold  for  any  judgment  obtained 
under  this  section,  but  if  such  building  or  premises  belongs  to  a minor 
or  other  person  under  guardianship,  then  the  guardian  or  conservator 
and  his  property  shall  be  liable  instead  of  such  ward,  and  his  property 
shall  be  subject  to  be  sold  for  the  payment  of  said  judgment.  (R.  S. 
1845,  p.  174,  sec.  127.) 


APPENDIX  H. 

House  of,  Ill-Fame  or  Assignation.  Revised  Municipal  Code 
(1905),  Sections  1456,  1458,  1458A,  1460. 

Section  1456.  No  person  shall  keep  or  maintain  a house  of  ill- 
fame  or  assignation,  or  place  for  the  practice  of  fornication  or  pros- 
titution or  lewdness,  under  a penalty  of  not  to  exceed  two  hundred 
dollars  for  every  twenty-four  hours  such  house  or  place  shall  be  kept 
or  maintained  for  such  purpose. 

Section  1458.  Every  house  of  ill-fame  or  house  of  assignation 
where  men  and  women  resort  for  the  purpose  of  fornication  or  pros- 
titution is  hereby  declared  to  be  a nuisance. 

Section  1458A.  Any  person  leasing  to  another  any  house,  room 
or  other  premises  in  whole  or  in  part  for  any  of  the  uses  or  purposes 
set  forth  in  Section  1456  of  the  Revised  Municipal  Code  of  Chicago 
of  1905,  or  knowingly  permitting  the  same  to  be  used  or  occupied 
for  such  purpose,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  $200.  (Passed  Feb. 
7th.  1910.  Council  Proceedings,  p.  3111.) 


310 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Ill-Governed  or  Disorderly  Houses. 

Section  1460.  Every  common,  ill-governed  or  disorderly  house, 
room  or  other  premises,  kept  for  the  encouragement  of  idleness,  gam- 
ing, drinking,  fornication  or  other  misbehavior  is  hereby  declared 
to  be  a public  nuisance,  and  the  keeper  and  all  persons  connected 
with  the  maintenance  thereof,  and  all  persons  patronizing  or  fre- 
quenting the  same  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  two  hundred  dollars 
for  each  offense. 


APPENDIX  III. 

Department  of  Health  and  Its  Relation  to  Houses  of  Pros- 
titution. Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  24, 
Sections  245,  246. 

Section  245.  Licensing  and  Medical  Inspection  Forbidden. 
Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in 
the  General  Assembly,  That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  the  corporate 
authorities  of  any  city,  town  or  village  in  this  state  to  grant  a license 
to  any  person,  male  or  female,  to  keep  what  is  known  as  a house  of 
ill-fame  or  house  of  prostitution.  And  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any 
board  of  health  (or  any  member  or  employee  of  the  same)  now  ex- 
isting, or  which  may  hereafter  exist  under  the  laws  of  this  state, 
to  interfere  in  the  management  of  any  house  of  ill-fame  or  house  of 
prostitution,  or  to  provide  in  any  manner  for  the  medical  inspection 
or  examination  of  any  inmate  of  the  same.  (See  sec.  62,  item  45.) 

Section  246.  Emergency.  Whereas,  the  legislative  authorities 
of  certain  cities  in  this  state  are  about  to  license  houses  of  ill-fame, 
therefore  an  emergency  exists  why  this  act  should  take  effect  imme- 
diately; therefore,  this  act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and  j 
after  its  passage. 

i 

I 

APPENDIX  IV.  I 

I 

Boats  for  Prostitution.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois 
(1909),  Chapter  38,  Section  57A. 

Section  57A.  Keeping  Boats,  Etc.,  for  Purposes  of  Prostitu- 
tion. Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  repre-  i 
sented  in  the  General  Assembly,  That  any  person  who  shall  keep  a I 
boat  or  other  water  craft  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution  on  any  of  I 
the  navigable  waters  of  this  state,  breakwater  or  other  stream,  over  \ 
or  upon  which  this  state  has  jurisdiction,  shall  be  guilty  of  a felony, 
and  upon  conviction  thereof,  shall  be  confined  in  the  penitentiary  i 
for  a period  of  not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  three  years,  and  shall  ! 
be  fined  in  any  sum  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars.  (1) 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


311 


APPENDIX  V. 

Frequenting  Houses  of  Ill-Fame.  Revised  Municipal  Code  of 
Chicago  (1905),  Section  1457. 

Section  1457.  No  person  shall  patronize,  frequent,  be  found  in 
or  be  an  inmate  of  any  house  of  ill-fame  or  assignation,  or  place  for 
the  practice  of  prostitution  or  lewdness  under  a penalty  of  not  ex- 
ceeding $200  for  each  offense. 


APPENDIX  VI. 

Disorderly  Conduct — Enticing,  Detaining  and  Allowing  Fe- 
males IN  Houses  of  Prostitution,  and  Seduction.  Hurd’s  Revised 
Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  38,  Sections  55,  57B,  57C,  57D, 
57E,  57F,  57G,  57H,  571,  57J,  57K,  525. 

Section  55.  Punishment.  Whoever  shall  be  guilty  of  open  lewd- 
ness, disorderly  conduct,  or  other  notorious  act  of  public  indecency, 
tending  to  debauch  the  public  morals,  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  $200. 
(R.  S.  1845,  p.  174,  Section  127.) 

Section  57B.  Enticing  Female  to  Enter  House  of  Prostitu- 
tion, ETC.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  repre- 
sented in  the  General  Assembly,  Whoever  within  this  state,  shall,  by, 
or  under  any  false  pretense,  entice,  induce  or  procure  any  unmarried 
female  of  a chaste  life  and  conversation,  residing  or  being  in  this 
state,  to  enter  a house  of  prostitution  or  any  dance  house,  garden  or 
premises  where  prostitution,  fornication  or  concubinage  is  practiced  or 
allowed  in  this  state,  or  shall  entice,  induce  or  procure  such  unmarried 
female  to  leave  this  state  and  go  to  any  other  State  or  Territory  of  the 
I United  States,  or  any  foreign  State  or  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of 
prostitution  or  fornication,  or  to  enter  any  house,  garden  or  premises 
where  prostitution  or  fornication  is  practiced  or  allowed,  and  whoever 
aids,  assists  or  abets  any  person  or  persons  in  committing  aforesaid  of- 
fenses or  either  of  them,  on  conviction,  shall  be  imprisoned  in  the 
; penitentiary  not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  ten  years. 


f 

f, 


Section  57C.  Unlawfully  Detaining  Female  in  House  of 
Prostitution,  etc.  Whoever  shall  unlawfully  detain  or  confine  any 
female,  by  force,  false  pretense  or  intimidation,  in  any  room,  house, 
building  or  premises  in  this  State,  against  the  will  of  such  female,  for 
purposes  of  prostitution  or  with  intent  to  cause  such  female  to  become 
a prostitute,  and  be  guilty  of  fornication  or  concubinage  therein,  or 
shall  by  force,  false  pretense,  confinement  or  intimidation  attempt  to 
prevent  any  female  so  as  .aforesaid  detained,  from  leaving  such  room, 
house,  building  or  premises,  and  whoever  aids,  assists  or  abets  by  force, 
false  pretense,  confinement  or  intimidation,  in  keeping,  confining  or 


312 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


unlawfully  detaining  any  female  in  any  room,  house,  building  or  prem-  | 
ises  in  this  State,  against  the  will  of  such  female,  for  the  purpose  of  f 
prostitution,  fornication  or  concubinage,  shall  on  conviction,  be  im-  I 
prisoned  in  the  penitentiary  not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  ten  ' 
years.  (2)  ; 

Section  57D.  Penalty  for  Allowing  Female  Under  Eighteen  , 
TO  Live  in  House  of  Prostitution.  Whoever,  being  the  keeper  of  ; 
a house  of  prostitution,  or  assignation  house,  building  or  premises  in  ^ 
this  State  where  prostitution,  fornication  or  concubinage  is  allowed  or  i 
practiced,  shall  suffer  or  permit  any  unmarried  female  under  the  age 
of  eighteen  years  to  live,  board,  stop  or  room  in  such  house,  building  or  » 
premises,  shall  on  conviction,  be  imprisoned  in  the  penitentiary  not  less  ; 
than  one  nor  more  than  five  years.  (As  amended  by  act  approved  i 
and  in  force  June  3,  1889.  L.  1889,  p.  112;  Legal  News  Ed.,  p.  79.)  i 
Section  57E.  Penalty  for  Enticing  to  Come  into  State  for,  : 
ETC.  Whoever  shall  entice,  induce  or  procure  to  come  into  this  State, 
any  unmarried  female  under  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  for  the  pur-  ■ 
pose  of  prostitution,  fornication  or  concubinage,  or  to  enter  any  house  ' 
of  prostitution  in  this  State,  shall,  on  conviction,  be  imprisoned  in  the  , 
penitentiary  not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  five  years.  (2) 

Section  57F.  Not  Affect  Act  as  to  Abduction  of  Females. 
The  passage  of  this  act  shall  not  affect  Section  1 of  Division  1 of  the 
Criminal  Code,  entitled,  “Abduction  of  Females,”  or  any  indictment  i 
heretofore,  or  that  may  hereafter  be  found  under  said  act.  (2) 

An  Act  in  relation  to  pandering;  to  define  and  prohibit  the 
same ; to  provide  for  the  punishment  thereof,  for  the  com- 
petency of  certain  evidence  at  the  trial  therefor  and  provid- 
ing what  shall  be  a defense.  (Approved  June  1,  1908.  In 
force  July  1,  1908.) 

An  Act  to  amend  an  act  entitled,  “An  act  in  relation  to  pan- 
dering: to  define  and  prohibit  the  same,  to  provide  for  the 
punishment  thereof,  for  the  competency  of  certain  evidence 
at  the  trial  therefor,  and  providing  what  shall  be  a de- 
fense,” approved  June  1,  1908,  in  force  July  1,  1908,  and 
also  the  title  of  said  act.  (Approved  June  12,  1909.  In 
force  July  1,  1909.  L.  1909,  p.  180.) 

Section  57G.  Defining  the  Offense  of  Pandering.  Section  (1) 

2.  Any  person  who  shall  procure  a female  inmate  for  a house  of  pros- 
titution or  who,  by  promises,  threats,  violence  or  by  any  device  or 
scheme,  shall  cause,  induce,  persuade  or  encourage  a female  person  M 
become  an  inmate  of  a house  of  prostitution,  or  shall  procure  a place 
as  inmate  in  a house  of  prostitution  for  a female  person,  or  any  per- 
son who  shall  by  promises,  threats,  violence  or  by  any  device  or  scheme, 
cause,  induce,  persuade  or  encourage  an  inmate  of  a house  of  prosti- 
tution to  remain  therein  as  such  inmate,  or  any  person  who  shall,  by 
fraud  or  artifice,  or  by  duress  of  person  or  goods,  or  by  abuse  of  any 
position  of  confidence  or  authority,  procure  any  female  person  to  be- 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


313 


come  an  inmate  of  a house  of  ill-fame,  or  to  enter  any  place  in  which 
prostitution  is  encouraged  or  allowed  within  this  State,  or  to  come 
into  this  State  or  leave  this  State  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution,  or 
who  shall  procure  any  female  person  who  has  not  previously  practiced 
prostitution  to  become  an  inmate  of  a house  of  ill-fame  within  this 
State,  or  to  come  into  this  State  or  leave  this  State  for  the  purpose  of 
prostitution,  or  who  shall  receive  or  give,  or  agree  to  receive  or  give, 
any  money  or  thing  of  value  for  procuring,  or  attempting  to  procure, 
any  female  person  to  become  an  inmate  of  a house  of  ill-fame  within 
this  State,  or  to  come  into  this  State  or  leave  this  State  for  the  pur- 
pose of  prostitution,  shall  be  guilty  of  pandering,  and  upon  a first  con- 
viction for  an  offense  under  this  act  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment 
in  the  county  jail  or  house  of  correction  for  a period  of  not  less  than 
six  months  nor  more  than  one  year  and  by  a fine  of  not  less  than  three 
hundred  dollars  and  not  to  exceed  one  thousand  dollars,  and  upon  con- 
viction for  any  subsequent  offense  under  this  act  shall  be  punished  by 
imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  for  a period  of  not  less  than  one  year 
nor  more  than  ten  years. 

Section  57H.  Evidence  for  Prosecution.  It  shall  not  be  a de- 
fense to  a prosecution  for  any  of  the  acts  prohibited  in  the  foregoing 
section  that  any  part  of  such  act  or  acts  shall  have  been  committed  out- 
side this  State,  and  the  offense  shall  in  such  case  be  deemed  and  alleged 
to  have  been  committed  and  the  offender  tried  and  punished  in  any 
county  in  which  the  prostitution  was  intended  to  be  practiced,  or  in 
which  the  offense  was  consummated,  or  any  overt  acts  in  furtherance 
of  the  offense  shall  have  been  committed. 

Section  571.  Female  Competent  Witness  Notwithstanding 
Marriage  to  Accused.  Any  such  female  person  referred  to  in  the 
foregoing  sections  shall  be  a competent  witness  in  any  prosecution  un- 
der this  act  to  testify  for  or  against  the  accused  as  to  any  transaction 
or  as  to  any  conversation  with  the  accused  or  by  him  with  another 
person  or  persons  in  her  presence,  notwithstanding  her  having  married 
I the  accused  before  or  after  the  violation  of  any  of  the  provisions  of 
this  act,  whether  called  as  a witness  during  the  existence  of  the  mar- 
■ riage  or  after  its  dissolution. 

Section  57J.  What  is  Not  a Defense.  The  act  or  state  of  mar- 
riage shall  not  be  a defense  to  any  violation  of  this  act. 

An  Act  to  prevent  the  detention,  by  debt  or  otherwise,  of  fe- 
male persons  in  houses  of  prostitution  or  other  places 
I where  prostitution  is  practiced  or  allowed,  and  providing 

1 for  the  punishment  thereof.  (Approved  June  9,  1909.  In 

force  July,  1909.  L.  1909,  p.  179.) 

Section  57K.  Detaining  Female  Against  Her  Will  in  a House 
OF  Prostitution — Penalty.  Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  Assembly,  That 
1 whoever  shall  by  any  means  keep,  hold  or  detain  against  her  will  or 
restrain,  any  female  person  in  a house  of  prostitution  or  other  place 
where  prostitution  is  practiced  or  allowed,  or  whoever  shall,  directly  or 


314 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


indirectly,  keep,  hold,  detain  or  restrain,  or  attempt  to  keep,  hold,  de- 
tain or  restrain,  in  any  house  of  prostitution  or  other  place  where 
prostitution  is  practiced  or  allowed,  any  female  person,  by  any  means, 
for  the  purpose  of  compelling  such  female  person,  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, to  pay,  liquidate  or  cancel  any  debt,  dues  or  obligations  incurred 
or  said  to  have  been  incurred  by  such  female  person,  shall,  upon  con- 
viction, for  the  first  offense  under  this  act  be  punished  by  imprison- 
ment in  the  county  jail  or  house  of  correction  for  a period  of  not  less 
than  six  months  nor  more  than  one  year  and  by  a fine  of  not  less 
than  three  hundred  dollars  and  not  to  exceed  one  thousand  dollars, 
and  upon  conviction  for  any  subsequent  offense  under  this  act  shall 
be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  for  a period  of  not 
less  than  one  year  nor  more  than  five  years. 

Seduction  of  Females. 

' An  Act  to  punish  the  seduction  of  females.  (Approved 
April  19,  1899.  In  force  July  1,  1899.  L.  1899,  p.  148; 
Legal  News  Ed.,  p.  124.) 

Section  525.  Crime  Defined — Punishment  For.  Be  it  enacted 
by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  As- 
sembly, That  any  person  who  shall  seduce  and  obtain  carnal  knowledge 
of  any  unmarried  female  under  the  age  of  eighteen  years  of  previous 
chaste  character,  shall,  on  conviction,  be  punished  by  a fine  of  not  less 
than  one  thousand  dollars  and  not  more  than  five  thousand  dollars  or 
by  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  not  exceeding  one  year,  or  by  both 
such  fine  and  imprisonment,  and  to  stand  committed  until  such  fine 
and  costs  are  fully  paid,  but  no  cqpviction  shall  be  had  of  said  crime 
upon  the  testimony  of  the  female  unsupported  by  other  evidence : 
And,  provided,  that  the  subsequent  intermarriage  of  the  parties  shall 
be  a bar  to  the  prosecution  of  said  offense. 

APPENDIX  VII. 

Night  Walkers.  Revised  Municipal  Code  of  Chicago  (1905), 
Sections  1454-1459-1476. 

Section  1454.  Disorderly  Conduct.  All  persons  who  shall  make, 
aid,  countenance  or  assist  in  making  any  improper  noise,  riot,  dis- 
turbance, breach  of  the  peace  or  diversion  tending  to  a breach  of 
the  peace  within  the  limits  of  the  city ; all  persons  who  shall  collect  in 
bodies  or  crowds  for  unlawful  purposes,  or  for  any  purpose,  to  the 
annoyance  or  disturbance  of  other  persons;  all  persons  who  are  idle 
or  dissolute  and  go  about  begging;  all  persons  who  use  or  exercise 
any  juggling  or  other  unlawful  games  or  plays;  all  persons  who  are 
found  in  house  of  ill-fame  or  gaming  houses ; all  persons  who  are 
in  or  found  at  any  time,  in  out-houses,  sheds,  barns,  stables  or  unoc- 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


315 


cupied  buildings,  or  underneath  sidewalks,  or  lodging  in  the  open  air 
and  not  giving  a good  account  of  themselves ; all  persons  who  shall 
wilfully  assault  another  in  said  city,  or  be  engaged  in  or  aid  or  abet 
in  any  fight,  quarrel  or  other  disturbance  in  said  city;  all  persons 
who  stand,  loiter  or  stroll  about  in  any  place  in  said  city  waiting  or 
seeking  to  obtain  money  or  other  valuable  thing  from  others  by  trick 
or  fraud  or  to  aid  or  assist  therein;  all  persons  that  shall  engage  in 
any  fraudulent  scheme,  device  or  trick  to  obtain  money  or  other 
valuable  thing  in  any  place  in  said  city,  or  who  shall  aid  or  abet  or  in 
any  manner  be  concerned  therein ; all  touts,  ropers,  steerers  or  cappers, 
so  called,  for  any  gambling  room  or  house  who  shall  ply  or  attempt 
to  ply  their  calling  on  any  public  street  in  said  city ; all  persons  found 
loitering  about  in  any  hotel,  block,  barroom,  dram-shop,  gambling 
house  or  disorderly  house,  or  wandering  about  the  streets  either  by 
night  or  day  without  any  known  lawful  means  of  support,  or  with- 
out being  able  to  give  a satisfactory  account  of  themselves;  all  per- 
sons who  shall  have  or  carry  any  pistol,  knife,  dirk,  knuckles,  slung- 
shot  or  other  dangerous  weapon  concealed  on  or  about  their  persons ; 
and  all  persons  who  are  known  to  be  thieves,  burglars,  pickpockets, 
robbers  or  confidence  men,  either  by  their  own  confession  or  other- 
wise, or  by  having  been  convicted  of  larceny,  burglary  or  other  crime 
against  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  who  are  found  lounging  in  or 
prowling  or  loitering  around  any  steamboat  landing,  railroad  depot, 
banking  institution,  place  of  public  amusement,  auction  room,  hotel, 
store,  shop,  thoroughfare,  car,  omnibus,  public  conveyance,  public 
gathering,  public  assembly,  courtroom,  public  building,  private  dwell- 
ing hou«e,  out-house,  house  of  ill-fame,  gambling  house,  tippling  shop, 
or  any  public  place,  and  who  are  unable  to  give  a reasonable  excuse 
for  being  so  found,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  disorderly  conduct,  and 
upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  severally  subject  to  a fine  of  not  less 
than  one  dollar  nor  more  than  two  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 

Section  1459.  Night  Walkers.  All  prostitutes,  solicitors  to 
prostitution,  and  all  persons  of  evil  fame  or  report,  plying  their  vo- 
cations upon  the  streets,  alleys  or  public  places  in  the  city,  are  hereby 
declared  to  be  common  nuisances  and  shall  be  fined  not  to  exceed  one 
hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 

Section  1476.  Vagabonds  and  Vagrants.  All  persons  who  are 
idle  and  dissolute,  or  who  go  about  begging,  all  persons  who  use  any 
shell  game,  sleight  of  hand  or  juggling  trick  or  other  unlawful  game  to 
cheat,  defraud  or  unlawfully  obtain  money  or  other  valuable  thing; 
pilferers ; confidence  men ; common  drunkards ; common  night  walk- 
ers ; persons  lewd,  wanton  or  lascivious  in  speech  or  behavior ; com- 
mon brawlers ; persons  who  are  habitually  neglectful  of  their  employ- 
ment or  their  calling,  and  do  not  lawfully  provide  for  themselves  or 
for  the  support  of  their  families;  and  all  persons  who  are  idle  or 
dissolute  and  who  neglect  all  lawful  business,  and  who  habitually 
misspend  their  time  by  frequenting  houses  of  ill-fame,  gaming  houses 


316 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


or  tippling  shops;  all  persons  lodging  in  or  found  in  the  night-time 
in  out-houses,  sheds,  barns  or  unoccupied  buildings  .or  lodging  in 
the  open  air,  and  not  giving  a good  account  of  themselves;  and  all 
persons  who  are  known  to  be  thieves,  burglars  or  pickpockets,  either 
by  their  own  confession  or  otherwise,  or  by  having  been  convicted 
of  larceny,  burglary,  or  other  crime  against  the  laws  of  the  state, 
punishable  by  imprisonment  in  the  state  prison,  or  in  a house  of  cor- 
rection of  any  city,  and  having  no  lawful  means  of  support,  are  habit- 
ually found  prowling  around  any  steamboat  landing,  railroad  depot, 
banking  institution,  broker’s  office,  place  of  public  amusement,  auction 
room,  store,  shop  or  crowded  thoroughfare,  car  or  omnibus,  or  at 
any  public  gathering  or  assembly,  or  lounging  about  any  court  room, 
private  dwelling  houses  or  out-houses,  or  are  found  in  any  house  of 
ill-fame,  gambling  house,  or  tippling  shop,  shall  be  deemed  to  be 
and  they  are  declared  to  be  vagabonds,  and  shall  be  fined  not  to  ex- 
ceed one  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 

APPENDIX  VIII. 

Vagabonds. 

Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  38,  Sections 
270,  271. 

Section  270.  Vagabonds — What  Shall  Constitute.  All  per- 
sons who  are  idle  and  dissolute,  and  who  go  about  begging;  all  persons 
who  use  any  juggling  or  other  unlawful  games  or  plays;  runaways; 
pilferers;  confidence  men;  common  drunkards;  common  night-walkers; 
lewd,  wanton  and  lascivious  persons,  in  speech  or  behavior ; common 
railers  and  brawlers ; persons  who  are  habitually  neglectful  of  their 
employment  or  their  calling,  and  do  not  lawfully  provide  for  them- 
selves, or  for  the  support  of  their  families ; and  all  persons  who  are 
idle  or  dissolute  and  who  neglect  all  lawful  business,  and  who  habit- 
ually misspend  their  time  by  frequenting  houses  of  ill-fame,  gaming 
houses  or  tippling  shops ; all  persons  lodging  in  or  found  in  the  night- 
time in  out-houses,  sheds,  barns  or  unoccupied  buildings  or  lodging  in 
the  open  air,  and  not  giving  a good  account  of  themselves ; and  all 
persons  who  are  known  to  be  thieves,  burglars  or  pickpockets,  either 
by  their  own  confession  or  otherwise,  or  by  having  been  convicted  of 
larceny,  burglary,  or  other  crime  against  the  laws  of  the  state,  pun- 
ishable by  imprisonment  in  the  state  prison,  or  in  a house  of  correction 
of  any  city,  and  having  no  lawful  means  of  support,  are  habitually 
found  prowling  around  any  steamboat  landing,  railroad  depot,  banking 
institution,  broker’s  office,  place  of  public  amusement,  auction  room, 
store,  shop  or  crowded  thoroughfare,  car  or  omnibus,  or  at  any  public 
gathering  or  assembly,  or  lounging  about  any  court  room,  private 
dwelling  houses  or  out-houses,  or  are  found  in  any  house  of  ill-fame, 
gambling  house,  or  tippling  shop,  shall  be  deemed  to  be  and  they  are 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


317 


declared  to  be  vagabonds.  (As  amended  by  act  approved  April  27, 
1877.  In  force  July  1,  1877.  R.  S.  1845,  p.  175,  sec.  138;  L.  1877,  p. 
87;  Legal  News  Ed.,  p.  90.) 

Section  271.  How  Punished.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  sheriff, 
bailiff  of  the  municipal  court  of  Chicago,  constable,  city  marshal  and 
police  officers  of  any  county,  town,  village,  city  or  other  municipality 
in  this  state,  to  arrest,  upon  warrant,  and  bring  before  the  nearest  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  or  police  magistrate,  or,  if  within  the  city  of  Chicago, 
before  the  municipal  court  of  Chicago,  any  such  vagabond,  wherever 
he  may  be  found,  for  the  purpose  of  examination ; and  if  he  pleads 
guilty,  or  if  he  be  found  guilty,  either  by  the  verdict  of  a jury  or  by 
the  finding  of  the  said  justice  of  the  peace,  police  magistrate,  or  munic- 
ipal court,  where  a jury  trial  is  waived,  the  said  justice  of  the  peace, 
police  magistrate  or  municipal  court  may  sentence  the  said  vagabond 
to  imprisonment  at  hard  labor  upon  the  streets  or  highways,  or  in  the 
jail,  calaboose  or  other  building  used  for  penal  purpose  of  the  county, 
town,  village,  city  or  other  municipality  in  which  such  vagabond  was 
convicted ; or  to  the  house  of  correction  of  any  city  having  a contract 
with  such  county  for  the  care  of  prisoners,  for  a term  of  not  less  than 
ten  (10)  days  and  not  exceeding  six  months,  in  the  discretion  of  the 
said  justice  of  the  peace,  police  magistrate  or  municipal  court;  or  the 
said  justice  of  the  peace,  police  magistrate  or  municipal  court  may 
sentence  the  said  vagabond  to  pay  a fine  of  not  less  than  twenty  dol- 
lars ($20)  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  ($100)  and  costs  of 
suit ; and  in  default  of  the  immediate  payment  of  said  fine  and  costs  so 
imposed,  said  vagabond  shall  thereupon  be  sentenced  by  said  justice  of 
the  peace,  police  magistrate  or  municipal  court  to  imprisonment  at  hard 
labor  in  said  jail,  calaboose,  or  other  building  used  for  penal  purposes, 
or  in  said  house  of  correction,  or  on  the  streets  or  public  highways  until 
said  fine  and  costs  are  worked  out  at  the  rate  of  $1.50  per  day  for  each 
day’s  work,  or  until  said  fine  and  costs  shall  have  been  otherwise  paid 
or  until  said  vagabond  is  discharged  according  to  law.  (As  amended 
by  act  approved  May  24,  1907.  In  force  July  1,  1907.  L.  1907,  p.  271.) 


APPENDIX  IX. 

' Sale  of  Cocaine.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909), 
Chapter  91,  Sections  32A,  32B  and  32C. 

Section  32A.  Sale  of  Cocaine,  etc..  Forbidden  Except  Upon 
Written  Prescription — Exception.  (14a.)  It  shall  be  unlawful  for 
any  druggist  or  other  person  to  retail,  sell  or  give  away  any  cocaine, 
alpha  or  beta  eucaine,  or  any  salt  or  any  compound,  or  derivative  of 
any  of  the  foregoing  substances,  or  any  preparation  or  compound  con- 
taining any  of  the  foregoing  substances,  or  any  of  their  salts  or  com- 
pounds, or  derivatives,  except  upon  the  written  prescription  of  a duly 
registered  physician,  which  prescription  shall  contain  the  name  and 


318 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


address  of  the  person  for  whom  prescribed,  and  the  date  the  same  shall 
have  been  filled,  and  shall  be  permanently  retained  on  file  by  the  per- 
son, firm  or  corporation,  where  the  same  shall  have  been  filled,  and  it 
shall  be  filled  but  once,  and  of  it  no  copy  shall  be  taken  by  any  person, 
and  the  original  shall  at  all  times  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  the  pre- 
scriber,  to  the  state  board  of  pharmacy,  and  all  officers  of  the  law ; ex- 
cept, however,  that  such  cocaine,  alpha  or  beta  eucaine,  or  any  salt,  or 
any  compound  or  any  derivative  of  the  foregoing  substances,  or  any 
preparation  or  compound  containing  any  of  the  foregoing  substances, 
or  any  of  their  salts  or  compounds,  or  derivatives,  may  lawfully  be 
sold  at  wholesale  upon  the  written  order  of  a licensed  pharmacist,  or 
licensed  druggist,  duly  registered  practicing  physician,  licensed  veter- 
inarian, or  licensed  dentist,  provided,  that  the  wholesale  dealer  shall 
affix  or  cause  to  be  affixed  to  the  bottle,  box,  vessel  or  package,  con- 
taining the  article  sold,  and  upon  the  outside  wrapper  of  the  package 
as  originally  put  up,  a label  distinctly  displaying  the  name  and  the 
quantity  of  cocaine,  alpha  or  beta  eucaine,  or  any  salt  or  compound,  or 
derivative  or  any  of  the  foregoing  substances,  sold,  and  the  word 
“poison,”  with  the  name  and  place  of  business  of  the  seller,  all 
printed  in  red  ink;  and  provided,  also,  that  the  wholesale  dealer  shall, 
before  delivering  any  of  the  articles,  make  or  cause  to  be  made  in  a 
book  kept  for  the  purpose,  an  entry  of  the  sale  thereof,  stating  the 
date  of  sale,  the  quantity,  name  and  form  in  which  sold,  the  name 
and  address  of  the  purchaser,  and  the  name  of  the  person  by  whom 
the  entry  is  made;  and  the  said  book  shall  be  always  open  for  the  in- 
spection by  the  proper  authorities  of  the  law,  and  shall  be  preserved 
for  at  least  five  years  after  the  date  of  the  last  entry  made  therein. 
(As  amended  by  act  approved  and  in  force  January  17,  1908.  See 
People  v.  Zito,  237  111.,  434.) 

Section  32B.  When  Unlawful  for  Physician  to  Prescribe. 
(14b.)  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  duly  registered  physician  or  other 
person  to  prescribe,  sell  or  offer  for  sale,  dispense  or  give  away  co- 
caine, alpha  or  beta  eucaine,  or  any  salt  or  compound  or  derivative  of 
the  foregoing  substances,  or  any  of  their  salts  or  compounds  or  deriva- 
tives, or  preparation  or  compound  containing  any  of  the  foregoing  sub- 
stances, to  any  person  addicted  to  the  habitual  use  of  cocaine,  alpha  or 
beta  eucaine,  or  any  salt  or  compound  or  derivative,  of  the  foregoing 
substances  in  any  form.  (As  amended  by  act  approved  and  in  force 
January  17,  1908.) 

Section  32C.  Penalty.  Any  person  violating  any  of  tbe  provi- 
sions of  the  foregoing  sections  14a  and  14b  shall  be  guilty  of  a mis- 
demeanor, and  for  the  first  offense  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  one 
thousand  ($1,000)  dollars,  or  imprisoned  in  the  county  Jail  not  more 
than  one  year,  or  both,  and  for  each  succeeding  offense  fined  not  less 
than  two  hundred  ($200)  dollars,  nor  more  than  one  thousand 
($1,000)  dollars,  or  imprisoned  not  less  than  three  months  nor  more 
than  twelve  months  in  the  county  jail,  or  both,  and  if  the  person  so 
offending  shall  have  a license  as  a physician,  dentist  or  pharmacist, 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


319 


u 
t 

p!  such  license  shall  be  revoked ; and  the  prosecution  for  the  violation  of 
■j  the  foregoing  Sections  14a  and  14b  shall  be  carried  on  in  the  same 
manner  as  for  violations  of  the  criminal  code,  and  all  fines  collected 
‘i  in  prosecution  shall  inure  to  the  benefit  of  the  State  Board  of  Phar- 
i macy : Provided,  That  suits  for  the  recovery  of  the  penalties  pre- 
j!  scribed  in  the  other  sections  of  this  act  shall  be  prosecuted  as  pro- 
;i  vided  in  Section  15.  (Added  by  act  approved  and  in  force  Januarv  17, 
1908.) 

APPENDIX  X. 

; Sale  of  Cocaine  Forbidden  Except  on  Written  Prescription. 
"Revised  Municipal  Code  of  Chicago  (1905),  Section  1470. 


Section  1470.  No  druggist  or  other  person  shall  sell  or  give 
away  any  morphine,  cocaine,  hydro-chlorate,  or  any  salts  of  any  com- 
pound of  the  same,  or  any  preparation  containing  cocaine,  morphine, 
hydro-chlorate,  or  any  salts  or  any  compound  thereof,  except  upon 
the  written  prescription  of  a licensed  physician  or  a licensed  drug- 
gist licensed  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois;  which  prescrip- 
tion shall  be  filled  only  once  and  shall  have  written  upon  it  the  name 
and  address  of  the  patient;  Provided,  that  the  provisions  of  this  sec- 
tion shall  not  apply  to  the  sale  at  wholesale  by  any  manufacturer  or 
wholesale  druggist  to  retail  druggists  or  to  any  other  person,  of  such 
cocaine,  morphine,  hydro-chlorate,  or  any  salts  or  any  compound  of 
the  same  in  original  packages  only,  with  such  packages  having  affixed 
thereto  a label  specifically  setting  forth  the  preparation  of  cocaine, 
morphine,  or  hydro-chlorate  contained  therein. 

Any  person  who  shall  violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  sec- 
tion shall  be  fined  not  less  than  fifty  dollars  nor  more  than  two  hun- 
dred dollars  for  each  offense. 


I i APPENDIX  XI. 

[t,  i 

The  Saloon  and  Immoral  Places.  Revised  Municipal  Code 
I (1905),  Section  1345. 

|i  Section  1345.  Revocation  of  Licenses.  Any  license  granted 
'/  [under  this  article  may  be  revoked  upon  written  notice  by  the  mayor, 
^Iwhenever  it  shall  appear  to  his  satisfaction  that  the  party  so  licensed 
. ishall  have  violated  any  provision  of  any  ordinance  of  the  city  relating 
ito  intoxicating  liquors  or  any  condition  of  the  bond  provided  for  in 
■'  [section  1336  of  this  article.  Upon  complaint  to  the  mayor  that  any 
J; , place  licensed  as  a saloon  is  a resort  of  disreputable  persons,  the  mayor 
shall  cause  an  investigation  to  be  made  as  to  such  complaint,  and  if 
found  to  be  true  he  shall  forthwith  revoke  the  license  issued  to  keep 
■ ■ 'such  saloon.  Upon  report  to  the  mayor  by  the  police  department,  that 
any  saloon  is  the  resort  of  disreputable  persons,  the  mayor  shall  at 
once  revoke  the  license  of  the  keeper  of  such  saloon. 


320 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


APPENDIX  XII. 

An  Ordinance  Limiting  the  Issuance  of  Dramshop  Licenses  in  the  i 
City  of  Chicago.  Passed  by  City  Council,  June  25,  1906. 

Be  it  Ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago: 

Sectton  1.  That  no  license  for  the  keeping  of  a saloon  or  dram-  ; 
shop  within  the  City  of  Chicago  shall  at  any  time  hereafter  be  issued  ■ 
or  granted  to  any  person  except  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Section  2.  All  lawful  licenses  issued  and  in  force  on  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  July,  1906,  for  the  keeping  of  a saloon  or  dramshop  within 
the  City  of  Chicago  shall  be  renewed  or  reissued  upon  strict  and  full 
compliance  with  the  laws  and  ordinances  in  force  in  the  City  of  Chi- 
cago at  the  time  of  the  application  for  such  renewal  or  reissue,  but  i 
no  new  license  (other  than  a renewal  or  reissue  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided) for  the  keeping  of  a saloon  or  dramshop  shall  at  any  time  there- 
after be  granted  or  issued  until  the  number  of  licenses  in  force  at  the 
time  shall  be  less  than  one  for  every  five  hundred  of  the  population  of 
the  City  of  Chicago  as  ascertained  by  the  then  last  preceding  school 
census,  whereupon  such  new  licenses  may  be  issued  from  time  to 
time  to  lawful  applicants,  according  to  priority  of  application,  upon 
full  compliance  by  the  applicant  with  the  laws  and  ordinances  in  force 
in  the  City  of  Chicago  at  the  time  of  the  application  for  such  license  i 
until  the  total  number  of  licenses  in  force  shall  equal  one  for  every  , 
five  hundred  of  the  population  of  the  City  of  Chicago,  as  ascertained 
by  the  then  last  preceding  school  census. 

Section  3.  The  owner  or  owners,  or  his  or  their  legal  representa- 
tives, of  a license  to  keep  a dramshop  or  a saloon  shall  have  and  be  ■ 
given  the  right  to  a renewal  or  reissue  of  such  license  at  the  same  or 
dififerent  place  of  business  upon  compliance  with  the  ordinances  now 
in  force  in  the  City  of  Chicago,  or  which  may  hereafter  be  passed  gov- 
erning the  licensing  of  dramshops  or  of  saloons,  and  such  owner  or  ■ 
owners,  or  his  or  their  legal  representatives,  of  a dramshop  or  saloon  i 
license  may  assign  or  convey  his  right  to  the  renewal  or  reissue  there-  i 
of  to  another  person,  who,  upon  full  compliance  with  the  ordinances 
then  in  force  in  the  City  of  Chicago  governing  the  licensing  of  saloons 
or  dramshops  shall  be  entitled  to  a renewal  or  reissue  of  such  license  : 
in  his  own  name,  and  each  holder  of  a license,  or  his  legal  representa-  i 
tives,  in  turn  may  assign  or  convey  such  right  of  renewal  or  reissue  of  i 
such  license  upon  the  same  terms  and  conditions  as  the  original  owner  i 
thereof  could  do  hereunder.  The  privilege  of  renewal  or  reissue  pro-  J 
vided  by  this  ordinance  shall  apply  only  so  long  as  the  license  in  each  I 
case  shall  have  been  kept  in  force  continuously  and  uninterruptedly  1 
in  the  name  of  the  licensee,  or  his  successor  in  interest.  No  license  to  i 
keep  a saloon  or  dramshop  shall  be  hereafter  issued  to  a firm  except  j 
in  the  names  of  the  individual  members  of  the  firm,  and  no  such  li- 
cense shall  hereafter  be  issued  to  a corporation;  provided,  however,  ■ 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


321 


that  any  corporation  now  holding  such  a license  in  its  name  may  desig- 
nate the  person  or  persons  who  shall  be  entitled  to  a renewal  or  reissue 
of  such  license  for  the  license  period  beginning  November  1,  1906; 
provided  further,  however,  that  such  person  or  persons  shall  duly 
qualify  by  complying  with  all  the  laws  and  ordinances  in  force  at  the 
time  in  the  City  of  Chicago. 

Section  4.  Any  and  all  ordinances  of  the  City  of  Chicago  so  far 
as  they  are  in  conflict  with  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance  are 
hereby  repealed. 

Section  5.  This  ordinance  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its 
passage. 

APPENDIX  XIII. 

An  Ordinance  Fixing  the  Annual  Fee  for  Dramshop  Licenses  at 
$1,000.00.  Passed  by  City  Council,  March  5,  1906. 

An  Ordinance  Amending  Sections  1339  and  1340  of  the  Revised 
Municipal  Code  of  1905. 

Be  It  Ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago: 

Section  1.  That  Section  1339  of  the  Revised  Municipal  Code  of 
the  City  of  Chicago  of  1905  is  hereby  amended  to  read  as  follows: 

“1339.  Fee.  Any  person  on  compliance  with  the  aforesaid  re- 
quirements and  the  payment  in  advance  to  the  City  Collector  of  a li- 
cense fee  at  the  rate  of  one  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  shall  receive 
a license  under  the  corporate  seal,  signed  by  the  Mayor  and  attested  by 
the  City  Clerk,  which  shall  authorize  the  person  or  persons  therein 
named  to  keep  a dramshop 'or  saloon  and  to  sell,  give  away  or  barter 
intoxicating  liquors,  in  quantities  less  than  one  gallon,  in  the  place 
designated  in  the  license  and  for  the  period  stated  therein.” 

Section  2.  Section  1340  of  the  Revised  Municipal  Code  of  Chi- 
cago of  1905  is  hereby  amended  to  read  as  follows : 

“1340.  Periods  of  Payments.  The  saloon  license  year  is  hereby 
divided  into  two  periods  as  follows:  From  May  first  to  October  thir- 
ty-first, inclusive,  shall  be  known  as  the  first  period;  from  November 
first  to  April  thirtieth  of  the  following  year,  inclusive,  shall  be  known 
as  the  second  period.  Licenses  may  be  issued  for  the  full  license  year 
or  for  the  unexpired  portion  thereof,  and  the  fee  payable  therefor 
shall  be  one  thousand  dollars  in  advance  for  the  full  license  year,  or 
five  hundred  dollars  in  advance  for  each  period ; provided,  that  if  any 
license  shall  issue  for  the  unexpired  portion  of  the  license  year  or 
for  the  unexpired  portion  of  any  period,  the  fee  to  be  paid  therefor 
shall  bear  the  same  ratio  to  the  sum  required  for  the  whole  year  that 
the  number  of  days  in  such  unexpired  portion  bears  to  the  whole 
number  of  days  in  the  year ; and  provided  further  that  no  license  shall 
extend  beyond  the  30th  day  of  April  next  following  its  issuance.” 


322 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Section  3.  This  ordinance  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its 
passage  and  due  publication  according  to  law  and  shall  take  effect  on 
the  first  day  of  May,  A.  D.,  1906. 

APPENDIX  XIV. 

Revised  Municipal  Code  (1905),  relating  to  Wine  Rooms,  Sec- 
tions 1341,  1342,  1343  and  1344. 

Section  1341.  Winerooms  Prohibited.  No  person  operating, 
maintaining  or  conducting  a saloon,  dramshop  or  other  place  in  which 
malt,  vinous,  spirituous  or  intoxicating  liquors  of  any  kind  what- 
soever are  sold,  given  away,  or  otherwise  dealt  in,  shall  establish  or 
maintain  in  connection  with  such  saloon,  dramshop  or  other  place, 
either  as  a part  thereof,  or  as  an  adjunct  thereto,  any  wineroom  or 
private  apartment  the  interior  of  which  is  shut  off  from  the  general 
public  view  by  doors,  curtains,  screens,  partitions,  or  other  device 
of  any  kind  whatsoever. 

Section  1342.  Number  of  Persons  to  Be  Served.  No  person 
operating,  maintaining,  or  conducting  a restaurant,  cafe,  dining  room, 
or  other  like  place  shall  serve,  or  permit  to  be  served,  any  malt, 
vinous,  spirituous  or  intoxicating  liquors  of  any  kind  whatsoever  in 
any  private  apartment  which  may  be  maintained  as  a part  or  an  ad- 
junct to  such  restaurant,  cafe,  dining  room  or  other  like  place,  to  any 
number  of  persons  less  than  four,  unless  all  the  members  of  such 
party  numbering  less  than  four  be  of  the  same  sex. 

Section  1343.  Penalty.  Any  person  violating  any  of  the  pro- 
visions of  the  two  preceding  sections  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  ten 
dollars  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense;  and 
provided  further,  that  in  any  case  where  any  person  maintaining 
or  conducting  a saloon,  dramshop,  restaurant,  cafe,  dining  room  or 
other  like  place  at  or  in  which  malt,  vinous,  spirituous  or  intoxicating 
liquors  of  any  kind  are  sold,  given  away,  or  otherwise  dealt  in,  shall 
violate  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  two  preceding  sections,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  penalty  above  fixed,  such  person  shall  have  his  license  re- 
voked, and  shall  not  be  permitted  to  again  obtain  a license  to  operate, 
conduct  or  maintain  a saloon,  dramshop,  restaurant,  cafe,  dining  room, 
or  other  like  place  at  or  in  which  malt,  vinous,  spirituous  or  intoxi- 
cating liquors  are  sold,  given  away,  or  otherwise  dealt  in,  within  the 
city,  for  a period  of  two  years  from  and  after  the  date  of  the  con- 
viction of  any  such  person  of  the  violation  of  any  said  provisions. 

Section  1344.  Ill-Governed  Places — Penalty.  Every  com- 
mon or  ill-governed  house,  or  other  place  kept  by  any  person  licensed 
under  this  article  where  any  person  is  permitted  or  suffered  to  play 
any  game  of  chance  for  money  or  other  valuable  thing,  is  hereby 
declared  a public  nuisance;  and  no  person  shall  keep  or  maintain 
such  public  nuisance,  under  a penalty  of  not  less  than  five  dollars 
nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


323 


APPENDIX  XV. 

Dramshops.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter 
43,  Sections  9,  14  and  15. 

Section  9.  Suit  for  Damages  by  Husband,  Wife,  Child,  etc. — 
Forfeiture  of  Lease,  etc.  Every  husband,  wife,  child,  parent,  guard- 
ian, employer  or  other  person,  who  shall  be  injured  in  person  or  prop- 
erty, or  means  of  support,  by  any  intoxicated  person,  or  in  consequence 
of  the  intoxication,  habitual  or  otherwise,  of  any  person,  shall  have  a 
right  of  action  in  his  or  her  name,  severally  or  jointly,  against  any 
person  or  persons  who  shall,  by  selling  or  giving  intoxicating  liquors, 
have  caused  the  intoxication,  in  whole  or  in  part,  of  such  person  or 
persons;  and  any  person  owning,  renting,  leasing  or  permitting  the 
occupation  of  any  building  or  premises,  and  having  knowledge  that 
intoxicating  liquors  are  to  be  sold  therein,  or  who  having  leased  the 
same  for  other  purposes,  shall  knowingly  permit  therein  the  sale  of  any 
• intoxicating  liquors  that  have  caused,  in  the  whole  or  in  part,  the  intox- 
j ication  of  any  person,  shall  be  liable,  severally  or  jointly,  with  the  per- 
i son  or  persons  selling  or  giving  intoxicating  liquors  aforesaid,  for  all 
damages  sustained,  and  for  exemplary  damages ; and  a married  woman 
shall  have  the  same  right  to  bring  suits  and  to  control  the  same  and  the 
amount  recovered,  as  a femme  sole;  and  all  damages  recovered  by  a 
minor  under  this  act  shall  be  paid  either  to  such  minor,  or  to  his  or 
her  parent,  guardian  or  next  friend,  as  the  court  shall  direct;  and  the 
. unlawful  sale  or  giving  away  of  intoxicating  liquors,  shall  work  a for- 
\ feiture  of  all  rights  of  the  lessee  or  tenant,  under  lease  or  contract  of 
rent  upon  the  premises  where  such  unlawful  sale  or  giving  away  shall 
take  place;  and  all  suits  for  damages  under  this  act  may  be  by  any 
appropriate  action  in  any  of  the  courts  of  this  state  having  competent 
, jurisdiction.  {Roth  v.  Eppy,  80  Ilk,  283;  Hackett  et  al.  v.  Smelsley, 
j 77  Ilk,  109;  Horn  v.  Smith,  77  Ilk,  381;  McEvoy  v.  Humphrey,  77 
Ilk,  388;  Reget  v.  Bell,  77  Ilk,  593;  Bates  v.  Davis,  76  Ilk,  222;  Frees 
' V.  Tripp,  70  Ilk,  496;  Meidel  v.  Anthis,  71  Ilk,  241;  Emory  v.  Addis, 
! 71  Ilk,  273;  Kellerman  v.  Arnold,  71  Ilk,  632.) 
i , Section  14.  Evidence.  In  all  prosecutions  under  this  act,  by  in- 
dictment or  otherwise,  it  shall  not  be  necessary  to  state  the  kind  of 
i liquor  sold;  nor  to  describe  the  place  where  sold;  nor  to  show  the 
knowledge  of  the  principal  to  convict  for  the  acts  of  an  agent  or  serv- 
ant ; and  in  all  cases  the  persons  to  whom  intoxicating  liquors  shall  be 
sold  in  violation  of  this  act,  shall  be  competent  witnesses. 

Section  15.  City  or  Village  Ordinance  No  Defense.  It  shall 
I be  no  objection  to  a recovery  under  this  act  that  the  oEense  for  which 
I the  person  is  prosecuted  is  punishable  under  any  city,  village  or  town 
i ordinance. 


324 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


APPENDIX  XVI. 

Selling  Liquor  to  Minor.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  (1909),  Sec- 
tions 6,  6^,  7,  Chapter  43. 

Section  6.  Selling  or  Giving  to  Minor  or  Drunkard.  Who- 
ever, by  himself,  or  his  agent  or  servant,  shall  sell  or  give  intoxicating 
liquor  to  any  minor  without  the  written  order  of  his  parent,  guardian, 
or  family  physician,  or  to  any  person  intoxicated,  or  who  is  in  the  habit 
of  getting  intoxicated,  shall,  for  each  offense,  be  fined  not  less  than 
twenty  dollars  ($20),  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  ($100),  or 
imprisoned  in  the  county  jail  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than  thirty 
days,  or  both,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  offense : Provided,  This 
act  shall  not  affect  any  prosecution  pending  at  the  time  this  act  takes 
effect,  but  in  every  such  prosecution  the  accused  shall,  upon  conviction 
be  punished  in  the  same  manner  in  all  respects,  as  if  this  act  had  not 
been  passed.  (As  amended  by  act  approved  May  18,  1877.  In  force 
July  1,  1877.  L.  1877,  p.  99;  Legal  News  Ed.,  p.  101.  Farmer  v.  The  { 
People,  77  111.,  322;  Mtdlinix  v.  The  People,  76  111.,  211.) 

Section  6J^.  Buying  or  Procuring  for  Minor.  Every  person, 
whether  the  keeper  of  a dram  shop  or  not,  who  shall  buy  or  in  any 
manner  procure  or  aid  in  procuring  any  wine,  rum,  brandy,  gin,  whis- 
key, lager  beer,  hard  cider,  alcohol,  or  other  vinous,  malt,  spirituous, 
fennented  or  mixed  liquor  or  any  intoxicating  liquor  whatever,  for  any 
minor,  without  the  written  order  of  such  minor’s  parent,  guardian  or 
family  physician,  or  shall  so  procure  or  aid  in  procuring  any  of  said 
liquors  for  any  person  intoxicated,  or  who  is  in  the  habit  of  getting 
intoxicated,  shall,  for  every  such  offense  be  fined  not  less  than  twenty 
dollars  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  or  confined  in  the  county 
jail  not  less  than  ten  nor  more  than  thirty  days  or  both  in  the  discretion 
of  the  court.  (Added  by  act  approved  Tune  19,  1891.  In  force  Jul)'’  1, 
1891.  L.  1891,  p.  105;  Legal  News  Ed.,  p.  83.) 

Section  7.  Nuisances — Penalty — Bond — Evidence.  All  places 
where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold  in  violation  of  this  act,  shall  be 
taken,  held  and  be  declared  to  be  common  nuisances,  and  all  rooms,  ' 
taverns,  eating  houses,  bazars,  restaurants,  drug  stores,  groceries, 
coffee  houses,  cellars,  or  other  places  of  public  resort,  where  intoxi- 
cating liquors  are  sold  in  violation  of  this  act,  shall  be  deemed  public 
nuisances ; and  whoever  shall  keep  any  such  place,  by  himself,  or  his 
agent  or  servant,  shall  for  each  offense,  be  fined  not  less  than  $50  nor 
more  than  $100,  and  confined  in  the  county  jail  not  less  than  twenty 
nor  more  than  fifty  days,  and  it  shall  be  a part  of  the  judgment,  upon 
the  conviction  of  the  keeper,  that  the  place  so  kept  shall  be  shut  up 
and  abated  until  the  keeper  shall  give  bond,  with  sufficient  security  to 
be  approved  by  the  court,  in  the  penal  sum  of  $1,000,  payable  to  the 
People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  conditioned  that  he  will  not  sell  intoxi- 
cating liquors  contrary  to  the  laws  of  this  state,  and  will  pay  all  fines, 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES' 


325 


costs  and  damages  assessed  against  him  for  any  violation  thereof ; and 
in  case  of  a forfeiture  of  such  bond,  suit  may  be  brought  thereon  for 
the  use  of  the  county,  city,  town  or  village,  in  case  of  a fine  due  to 
either  of  them.  It  shall  not  be  necessary  in  any  prosecution  under 
this  section  to  state  the  name  of  any  person  to  whom  liquor  is  sold. 
{Streeter  v.  The  People,  69  111.,  595.) 

APPENDIX  XVII. 

Intoxicating  Liquors  at  Public  Entertainments  and  Sell- 
ing to  Minors.  Revised  Municipal  Code  (1905),  Sections  117,  1352. 

Section  117.  Intoxicating  Liquors.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for 
any  person  to  sell  or  give  away  any  spirituous,  vinous,  malt,  or  other 
intoxicating  liquors,  in  any  theater,  hall,  building,  structure  or  premises 
in  which  public  entertainments  are  given  for  gam,  nor  in  any  room 
or  rooms  connected  with  the  same,  without  a special  permit  from  the 
mayor  under  a penalty  of  not  more  than  $100  for  each  offense. 

Section  1352.  Minors — Penalty.  No  person  owning  or  oper- 
ating a saloon,  dramshop,  grocery,  or  other  place  where  intoxicating 
liquors  are  sold  or  given  away  shall  permit  any  minor  to  drink  therein 
intoxicating  drinks  of  any  kind,  or  to  play  with  dice,  dominoes,  cards, 
balls  or  other  articles  used  in  gaming ; nor  shall  any  such  person  own- 
ing or  operating  any  saloon,  dramshop,  grocery,  or  place  aforesaid, 
sell,  give  away  or  deliver  to  any  minor  any  malt,  vinous,  spirituous  or 
intoxicating  liquors,  either  to  be  drunk  on  the  premises  or  carried 
away. 

Any  person  violating  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be 
fined  not  less  than  twenty  dollars  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars 
for  each  offense. 

APPENDIX  XVIII. 

Regulating  Admission  of  Minors  to  Public  Dance  Halls 
Where  Intoxicating  Liquors  Are  Sold: 

An  Act  regulating  the  admission  of  minors  to  public  dance  halls 
where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold  or  given  away  and  providing  for 
penalties  for  violation  of  this  act.  (Approved  May  17,  1907.  In 
force  July  1,  1907,  L.  1907,  p.  305.)  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illi- 
nois (1909),  Chapter  43,  Section  48,  49. 

Section  48.  Admission  of  Minors  Regulated.  Be  it  enacted 
by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  As- 
sembly: That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person,  firm  or  corpora- 

tion, as  owper,  agent,  lessee  or  otherwise,  that  maintains  or  conducts 
any  public  dance  hall  where  intoxicating  beverages  or  liquors  are 
sold  or  given  away,  or  any  such  dance  hall  that  is  adjacent  or  con- 
nected with  any  room,  building,  park  or  enclosure  of  any  kind  where 


326 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


such  intoxicating  beverages  or  liquors  are  sold  or  given  away,  to  i 
permit  any  minor  to  enter  and  be  and  remain  within  such  public  ' 
dance  hall  or  be  and  remain  upon  the  premises  where  such  public  : 
dance  hall  is  located,  unless  such  minor  is  accompanied  by  his  or  her  \ 
parent  or  parents.  ; 

Section  49.  Penalty.  Any  person,  firm  or  corporation  vio-  i 
lating  section  one  (1)  of  this  act  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor  i 
and  shall,  upon  conviction,  be  fined  a sum  not  less  than  twenty-five 
($25.00)  dollars  for  each  otfense  nor  more  than  two  hundred  ($200) 
dollars  for  each  offense.  Any  persons  falsely  representing  himself  or 
herself  as  parent  of  any  minor  shall  be  guilty  of  a misdemeanor  and 
shall,  upon  conviction,  be  subject  to  the  foregoing  penalties. 


APPENDIX  XIX. 

An  Ordinance  Authorizing  the  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Chicago  to  ; 
Issue  “Bar  Permits.”  Passed  June  6th,  1910. 

Be  It  Ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago: 

Section  1.  The  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Chicago  is  authorized  and 
empowered  upon  written  application,  accompanied  by  a good  and  suffi-  . 
cient  bond  and  the  payment  of  a fee  as  hereinafter  provided,  to  issue 
a bar  permit  for  the  sale  or  dispensing  at  retail,  of  vinous  and  malt  ' 
liquors,  to  any  corporation,  voluntary  association  or  society  of  persons 
organized  in  good  faith  for  fraternal,  educational  or  charitable  pur-  : 
poses,  or  to  any  person  or  persons  for  such  sale  or  dispensing  at  re- 
tail of  vinous  and  malt  liquors  at  any  gathering  or  entertainment  held  ■ 
by  any  such  corporation,  voluntary  association  or  societx. 

Section  2.  The  applicant  for  such  permit  shall  furnish  proof 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Mayor  of  the  good  character  and  reputable  ; 
standing  of  said  society  or  corporation,  and  also  as  to  the  respectability  ' 
of  the  gathering  for  which  said  bar  permit  is  sought.  And  nothing 
herein  contained  shall  be  construed  to  authorize  the  issuance  of  bar 
permits  to  persons  or  alleged  pleasure  clubs  or  corporations  for  the 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  at  dance  halls  where  disreputable  persons 
gather  and  young  boys  and  girls  are  lured  to  vice  and  crime. 

Secion  3.  Said  corporations,  societies  and  organizations  respec- 
tively  described  in  Section  1 hereof  shall  each  be  entitled  to  receive  t 
not  to  exceed  six  permits  in  each  calendar  year,  nor  shall  more  than  i 
six  permits  be  issued  in  each  calendar  year  to  any  person  or  persons  a 
for  such  sales  at  any  such  gathering  or  entertainment  held  by  any  one  p 
of  such  corporations,  voluntary  associations  or  societies,  and  such  per-  » 
mits  shall  not  be  granted  for  a longer  time  than  from  three  o’clock  i 
P.  M.  until  three  o’clock  A.  M.,  and  the  fee  to  be  paid  therefor  shall  i 
be  six  dollars  in  advance,  and  the  bond  required  by  Section  1 shall  1 
be  executed  to  the  City  of  Chicago,  and  conditioned  the  same  as  a 
city  bar  permit  bond  heretofore  used  by  the  City  Collector.  The  City  . 


LAWS  AND  ordinances 


327 


Collector  shall  report  to  the  City  Council  at  every  regular  meeting  a 
complete  list  of  the  special  bar  permits  issued  hereunder  since  the 
last  Council  meeting.  Whenever  a dance  is  to  be  held  at  any  gathering 
licensed  as  hereinbefore  stated,  a police  officer  shall  be  detailed,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  see  that  none  of  the  city  ordinances  for  the  main- 
tenance of  good  order  and  decency  is  violated.  The  sum  of  $3.00  of 
said  $6.00  fees  shall  be  set  aside  for  the  payment  of  such  police  de- 
fail. 

Section  4.  Any  and  all  ordinances  of  the  City  of  Chicago  so  far 
as  they  are  in  conflict  with  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance  are 
hereby  repealed. 

Section  5.  This  ordinance  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its 
passage. 


APPENDIX  XX. 

“An  Ordinance  Amending  Section  99  of  the  Revised  Municipal 
Code  of  Chicago  of  1905,  as  amended,  Sections  100  to  111  of  the  Re- 
vised Municipal  Code  of  Chicago  of  1905  and  Section  112  of  the  Re- 
vised Municipal  Code  of  Chicago  of  1905,  as  amended,  and  repealing 
certain  sections  of  the  said  Code,  and  certain  ordinances.” 

“7th  Class.  All  grounds,  gardens  or  other  enclosures  of  the  kind 
commonly  known  and  described  as  ‘Amusement  Parks’  wherein  shows 
of  different  classes  are  offered  or  presented  by  one  or  more  conces- 
sionaries.” Sections  100,  101,  103,  112,  appearing  upon  pages  2148, 
2149,  2153,  of  Council  Proceedings,  dated  December  17,  1909. 

Section  100.  License — Penalty.  No  person,  or  corporation 
either  as  owner,  lessee,  manager,  officer  or  agent,  or  in  any  other  ca- 
pacity shall  give,  conduct,  produce,  present  or  offer  for  gain  or  profit 
any  of  the  -entertainments  mentioned  in  any  of  the  first  eleven  of  the 
foregoing  classes  anywhere  within  the  city,  excepting  in  a duly  licensed 
place,  nor  shall  any  such  person  or  corporation  give,  conduct,  pro- 
duce, present,  operate  or  offer  for  gain  or  profit  any  of  the  entertain- 
ments mentioned  in  the  last  ten  of  the  foregoing  class  without  a li- 
cense issued  for  that  purpose,  which  said  license  shall  be  issued  and 
procured  in  the  manner  hereinafter  set  forth. 

Any  person  or  corporation  violating  any  of  the  provisions  of 
this  section  shall  be  fined  not  more  than  two  hundred  ($200.00)  dol- 
lars for  each  offense  and  each  and  every  day  upon  which  any  such 
person  or  corporation  shall  give,  conduct,  produce,  present,  offer  or 
operate  any  such  entertainment  contrary  to  or  in  violation  of  any 
of  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  constitute  a separate  and  dis- 
tinct offense. 

Section  101.  Licenses  for  Places  of  Entertainment  of  the 
First  Eleven  Classes.  Any  person  or  corporation,  the  owner  or 
lessee  of  any  place  at  or  in  which  it  is  intended  to  produce,  offer. 


328 


tHE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


present  or  carry  on  any  of  the  entertainments  of  the  first  eleven 
classes  desiring  to  secure  a license  for  such  place  shall  be  granted 
such  license  under  the  following  conditions: 

The  applicant  shall  make  application  in  writing  to  the  Mayor  set- 
ting out  his  full  name  and  address,  if  an  individual,  and  if  a cor- 
poration, the  full  name  and  residence  of  its  principal  officers;  also 
a description  of  the  place  for  which  a license  is  desired  and  a state- 
ment of  the  class  of  entertainment  which  it  is  intended  to  produce* 
offer  or  present  at  such  place;  also  the  highest  price  to  be  charged 
for  admission  to  any  entertainment  offered  or  presented  at  such  place, 
and  also  the  seating  capacity  of  such  place. 

Whereupon,  the  Mayor  shall  make,  or  cause  to  be  made,  an  ex- 
amination of  the  place  for  which  such  license  is  desired,  and  if  all 
of  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance  and  all  of  the  ordinances  of  the 
City  of  Chicago  relating  to  the  giving  of  entertainments  and  of  the 
location,  construction  and  maintenance  of  the  places  within  which 
such  entertainments  are  given,  are  complied  with  and  if  the  Com- 
missioner of  Buildings,  the  City  Electrician  and  the  Fire  Marshal 
shall  so  certify,  the  Mayor  shall  issue,  or  cause  to  be  issued,  a li- 
cense to  such  applicant,  attested  by  the  City  Clerk,  which  shall  enti- 
tle the  licensee  named  therein  to  present,  offer,  produce  or  conduct 
at  the  place  designated  in  such  license  and  for  the  period  of  time 
specified  in  such  license,  entertainments  of  any  one  of  the  foregoing 
first  eleven  classes  mentioned  in  said  application,  upon  payment  of 
the  license  fee  hereinafter  specified. 

Section  103.  Mayor  May  Refuse  a License — When.  If  the 
place  at  which  it  is  desired  to  offer  any  of  the  foregoing  entertain- 
ments be  not  a fit  or  proper  place  and  not  constructed,  maintained, 
operated  or  conducted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  City  governing  and  controlling  said  places,  or  if  the  en- 
tertainment desired  to  be  produced  or  offered  be  of  an  immoral  or 
dangerous  character,  or  if  the  person  making  application  for  a license 
be  not  of  a good  moral  character,  the  Mayor  may  refuse  to  approve 
such  application  and  no  license  shall  be  issued  by  the  City  Clerk,  ex- 
cept upon  the  approval  of  the  Mayor. 

Section  112.  Intoxicating  Liquors.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for 
any  person  to  sell  or  give  away  any  spirituous,  vinous,  malt  or  other 
intoxicating  liquors  in  any  place  in  which  public  entertainments  are 
given  for  gain,  nor  in  any  room  or  rooms  connected  with  the  same 
without  a license  or  a special  permit  from  the  Mayor  under  a pen- 
alty of  not  more  than  one  hundred  ($100.00)  dollars  for  each  offense. 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


329 


APPENDIX  XXI. 


Rules  Governing  the  Regulation  of  Vice. 

Office  of  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police, 

Chicago,  April  28,  1910. 

The  following  orders  regulating  vice,  which  have  been  heretofore 
promulgated,  are  reissued  in  this  form  in  order  that  every  member 
of  the  department  may  be  personally  advised  concerning  them  and 
govern  himself  accordingly : 

To  Commanding  Officers:  The  following  rules  governing  the 
regulation  of  vice  are  hereby  promulgated  and  will  be  rigidly  enforced 
by  all  commanding  officers : 

1.  Messenger  and  Delivery  Boys,  or  any  person  over  the  age  of 
three  or  under  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  shall  not  be  permitted  either 
in  the  district  or  to  enter  the  premises. 

2.  Harboring  of  Inmates  Under  Legal  Age.  The  law  on  this 
subject  is  to  be  rigidly  enforced  and  all  keepers  held  strictly  account- 
able. If  inmates  under  age  are  found,  the  houses  shall  be  suppressed, 
and  it  shall  be  definitely  understood  that  this  action  will  be  taken  in 
any  and  all  cases  where  this  law  is  violated. 

3.  Forcible  Detention.  No  person  regardless  of  age,  shall  be 
detained  against  his  or  her  will,  nor  shall  iron  bars  or  other  obstacles 
be  permitted  upon  any  exit. 

4.  No  Women  without  Male  Escorts  shall  be  permitted  in  a 
saloon.  All  soliciting  of  this  nature  to  be  vigorously  suppressed. 

5.  Short  Skirts,  Transparent  Gowns  or  Other  Improper  At- 
tire shall  not  be  permitted  in  the  parlors,  or  public  rooms. 

6.  Men  will  not  be  permitted  to  conduct  or  be  domiciled  in  a 
house  of  prostitution  or  to  loiter  about  the  premises.  Males  evidently 
subsisting  on  the  income  of  inmates  will  be  arrested  as  vagrants. 

7.  Soliciting  in  any  form  shall  not  be  permitted,  either  on  the 
streets,  from  doorways,  from  windows  or  in  saloons. 

8.  Signs,  Lights,  Colors  or  Devices,  significant  or  conspicuous, 
indicative  of  the  character  of  any  premises  occupied  by  a house  of  ill- 
repute,  shall  not  be  permitted. 

9.  Obscene  Exhibitions  or  Pictures  shall  not  be  permitted. 

10.  Restricted  Districts.  No  house  of  ill-fame  shall  be  per- 
mitted outside  of  certain  restricted  districts,  or  to  be  established  within 
two  blocks  of  any  school,  church,  hospital  or  public  institution,  or  upon 
anv  street  car  line. 

11.  Doors.  No  swinging  doors  that  permit  of  easy  access  or  a 
view  of  the  interior  from  the  street  shall  be  permitted.  All  resorts 
shall  be  provided  with  double  doors  which  shall  be  kept  closed. 


330 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


12.  Liquor.  On  and  after  May  1,  1910,  no  liquor  will  be  per- 
mitted to  be  sold,  carried  in  stock  or  given  away  in  connection  with 
any  immoral  place. 

The  foregoing  rules  shall  govern  throughout  the  city.  These  regu- 
lations are  permanent  and  commanding  officers  will  hold  all  responsible 
to  rigid  accountability  for  their  enforcement. 


APPENDIX  XXII. 

Employment  of  Minors.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois 
(1909),  Chapter  48,  Sections  20,  201,  20J  and  20 AI,  and  Chapter  38, 
Sections  42A,  42B,  42C,  42D  and  42E. 

Section  20.  Child  Under  Fourteen  Years.  Be  it  emcted  by 
the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly, That  no  child  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  shall  be  employed, 
permitted  or  suffered  to  work  at  any  gainful  occupation  in  any  theatre, 
concert  hall  or  place  of  amusement  where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold 
or  in  any  mercantile  institution,  store,  office,  hotel,  laundry,  manufac- 
turing establishment,  bowling  alley,  passenger  or  freight  elevator,  fac- 
tory or  workshop  or  as  a messenger  or  driver  therefor,  within  this 
state.  That  no  child  under  fourteen  years  of  age  shall  be  employed  at 
any  work  performed  for  wages  or  other  compensation,  to  whomsoever 
payable,  during  any  portion  of  any  month  when  the  public  schools  of 
the  town,  township,  village  or  city  in  which  he  or  she  resides  are  in 
session,  nor  be  employed  at  any  work  before  the  hour  of  seven  o’clock 
in  the  morning  or  after  the  hour  of  six  o’clock  in  the  evening.  Pro- 
vided, That  no  child  shall 'be  allowed  to  work  more  than  eight  hours  in 
any  one  day. 

Section  201.  Hours  of  Labor.  No  person  under  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  shall  be  employed  or  suffered  or  permitted  to  work  at  any 
gainful  occupation  more  than  forty-eight  hours  in  any  one  week,  nor 
more  than  eight  hours  in  any  one  day ; or  before  the  hour  of  seven 
o’clock  in  the  morning  or  after  the  hour  of  seven  o’clock  in  the  evening. 
Every  employer  shall  post  in  a conspicuous  place  in  every  room  where 
such  minors  are  employed  a printed  notice  stating  the  hours  required 
of  them  each  day  of  the  week,  the  hours  of  commencing  and  stopping 
work  and  the  hours  when  the  time  or  times  allowed  for  dinner  or  for 
other  meals  begins  and  ends.  The  printed  form  of  such  notice  shall 
be  furnished  by  the  State  Inspector  of  Factories,  and  the  emplovment 
of  any  such  minor  for  longer  time  in  any  day  so  stated  shall  be  deemed 
a violation  of  this  section. 

Section  20J.  Employments  Forbidden  Children  Under  Six- 
teen Years  of  Age.  No  child  under  the  age  of  sixteen  shall  be 
employed  at  sewing  belts,  or  to  assist  in  sewing  belts,  in  any  capacity 
whatever;  nor  shall  any  child  adjust  any  belt  to  any  machinery;  they 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


331 


shall  not  oil  or  assist  in  oiling,  wiping  or  cleaning  machinery ; they  shall 
not  operate  or  assist  in  operating  circular  or  band  saws,  wood  shapers, 
wood  jointers,  planers,  sandpaper  or  wood  polishing  machinery,  emery 
or  polishing  wheels  used  for  polishing  metal,  wood-turning  or  boring 
machinery,  stamping  machines  in  sheet  metal  and  tinware  manufac- 
turing, stamping  machines  in  washer  and  nut  factories,  operating  corru- 
gating rolls,  such  as  are  used  in  roofing  factories,  nor  shall  they  be 
employed  in  operating  any  passenger  or  freight  elevators,  steam  boiler, 
steam  machinery,  or  other  steam  generating  apparatus,  or  as  pin  boys 
in  any  bowling  alleys ; they  shall  not  operate  or  assist  in  operating 
dough  brakes,  or  cracker  machinery  of  any  description ; wire  or  iron 
straightening  machinery,  nor  shall  they  operate  or  assist  in  operating 
rolling  mill  machinery,  punches  or  shears,  washing,  grinding  or  mixing 
mill  or  calender  rolls  in  rubber  manufacturing,  nor  shall  they  operate 
or  assist  in  operating  laundry  machinery;  nor  shall  children  be  em- 
ployed in  any  capacity  in  preparing  any  composition  in  which  dangerous 
or  poisonous  acids  are  used,  and  they  shall  not  be  employed  in  any 
capacity  in  the  manufacture  of  paints,  colors  or  white  lead ; nor  shall 
they  be  employed  in  any  capacity  whatever  in  operating  or  assisting  to 
operate  any  passenger  or  freight  elevator;  nor  shall  they  be  employed 
in  any  capacity  whatever  in  the  manufacture  of  goods  for  immoral  pur- 
poses, or  any  other  employment  that  may  be  considered  dangerous  to 
their  lives  or  limbs,  or  whei'e  their  health  may  be  injured  or  morals 
depraved;  nor  in  any  theater,  concert  hall,  or  place  of  amusement 
wherein  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold;  nor  shall  females  under  sixteen 
years  of  age  be  employed  in  any  capacity  where  such  employment 
compels  them  to  remain  standing  constantly. 

Section  20M.  Penalty.  Whoever,  having  under  his  control  a 
child  under  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  permits  such  child  to  be  employed 
in  violation  of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  for  each  offense  be  fined 
not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $25,  and  shall  stand  committed  until 
such  fine  and  costs  are  paid. 

A failure  to  produce  to  the  Inspector  of  Factories,  his  assistants 
or  deputies,  any  age  and  school  certificates,  or  lists  required  by  this  act. 
shall  constitute  a violation  of  this  act,  and  the  person  so  failing  shall, 
upon  conviction,  be  fined  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $50  for  each 
offense.  Ever^^  person  authorized  to  sign  the  certificate  prescribed  by 
Section  7 of  this  act,  who  certifies  to  any  materially  false  statement 
therein  shall  be  guilty  of  a violation  of  this  act,  and  upon  conviction 
be  fined  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $100  for  each  offense,  and 
shall  stand  committed  until  such  fine  and  costs  are  paid. 

Any  person,  firm  or  corporation,  agent  or  manager,  superintendent 
or  foreman  of  any  firm  or  corporation,  whether  for  himself  or  for  such 
firm  or  corporation,  or  by  himself  or  through  sub-agents,  or  foreman, 
superintendent  or  manager,  who  shall  violate  or  fail  to  comply  with  any 
of  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or  shall  refuse  admit^nce  to  premises  or 
otherwise  obstruct  the  factory  inspector,  assistant  factory  inspector,  or 
deputy  factory  inspector  in  the  performance  of  their  duties,  as  pre- 


332 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


scribed  by  this  act,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor  and  upon 
conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $100 
for  each  offense,  and  shall  stand  committed  until  such  fine  and  costs 
are  paid. 

Section  42A,  Chapter  38.  Certain  Employments  of  Children 
Forbidden.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  rep- 
resented in  the  General  Assembly,  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person 
having  the  care,  custody  or  control  of  any  child  under  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  to  exhibit,  use  or  employ,  or  in  any  manner,  or  under  any 
pretense,  sell,  apprentice,  give  away,  let  out,  or  otherwise  dispose  of 
any  such  child  to  any  person  in  or  for  the  vocation  or  occupation, 
service,  or  purpose  of  singing,  playing  on  musical  instruments,  rope  or 
wire  walking,  dancing,  begging  or  peddling,  or  as  a g}'mnast,  contor- 
tionist, rider  or  acrobat  in  any  place  whatsoever,  or  for  any  obscene, 
indecent  or  immoral  purpose,  exhibition  or  practice  whatsoever,  or 
for,  or  in  any  business,  exhibition  or  vocation  injurious  to  the  health 
or  dangerous  to  the  life  or  limb  of  such  child,  or  cause,  procure  or 
encourage  any  such  child  to  engage  therein.  ■ Nothing  in  this  section 
contained  shall  apply  to,  or  affect  the  employment  or  use  of  any  such 
child  as  a singer  or  musician  in  any  church,  school  or  academy,  or 
at  any  respectable  entertainment,  or  the  teaching  or  learning  the  science 
or  practice  of  music.  (1) 

Section  42B.  Unlawful  to  Exhibit.  It  shall  also  be  unlawful 
for  any  person  to  take,  receive,  hire,  employ,  use,  exhibit,  or  have  in 
custody  any  child  under  the  age  and  for  the  purposes  prohibited  in  the 
first  section  of  this  act.  (1) 

Section  42C.  Order  As  to  Custody.  When  upon  examination 
before  any  court  or  magistrate  it  shall  appear  that  any  child  within 
the  age  previously  mentioned  in  this  act  was  engaged  or  used  for 
or  in  any  business,  or  exhibition,  or  vocation,  or  purpose  prohibited 
in  this  act ; and  when  upon  the  conviction  of  any  person  of  a criminal 
assault  upon  a child  in  his  or  her  custody,  the  court  or  magistrate  be- 
fore whom  such  conviction  is  had,  shall  deem  it  desirable  for  the  wel- 
fare of  such  child,  that  the  person  so  convicted  should  be  deprived  of  its 
custody ; thereafter  such  child  shall  be  deemed  to  be  in  the  custody  of 
court,  and  such  court  or  magistrate  may  in  its  discretion,  make  such 
order  as  to  the  custody  thereof  as  now  is,  or  hereafter  may  be,  provided 
by  law  in  cases  of  vagrant,  truant,  disorderly,  pauper,  or  destitute 
children.  (1) 

Section  42D.  Endangering  Life  or  Health.  It  shall  be  un- 
lawful for  any  person  having  the  care  or  custody  of  any  child,  wilfullv 
to  cause  or  permit  the  life  of  such  child  to  be  endangered  or  the  health 
of  such  child  to  be  injured,  or  wilfully  cause  or  permit  such  child  to  be 
placed  in  such  a situation  that  its  life  or  health  may  be  endangered.  (11 

Section  42E.  Pen.a.lty.  Any  person  convicted  under  the  provi- 
sions of  the  precedjng  sections,  shall  for  the  first  offense  be  fined  not 
exceeding  one  hundred  dollars  ($1CX))  or  imprisoned  in  the  county 
jail  not  exceeding  three  months,  or  both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court; 


Laws  anl  Ordinances 


333 


and  upon  conviction  for  a second  or  any  subsequent  offense  shall  be 
fined  in  any  sum  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  ($500),  or  im- 
prisonment in  the  penitentiary  for  a term  not  exceeding  two  years,  or 
both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  court.  (1) 


APPENDIX  XXIII. 

Cruelty  to  Children,  and  Employment  Forbidden.  Revised 
Municipal  Code  of  Chicago  (1905),  Sections  1446-1447-1448  and  1586. 

Section  1446.  Exhibition  of  Children.  No  person  having  the 
care,  custody  or  control  of  any  child  under  the  age  of  fourteen  years, 
shall  cause  or  permit  any  such  child  to  be  exhibited,  used  or  employed, 
or  shall  apprentice  or  let  out,  or  otherwise  dispose  of  any  such  child 
to  any  person  or  corporation  for  the  vocation,  occupation,  service  or 
purpose  of  singing  or  playing  on  musical  instruments,  in  any  saloon  or 
saloons,  or  on  the  streets  or  alleys,  or  of  rope  or  wire  walking,  dancing, 
begging  or  peddling,  or  as  a gymnast,  contortionist,  rider,  or  acrobat 
in  any  place  whatsoever,  or  for  any  obscene,  indecent  or  immoral  pur- 
pose, exhibition  or  practice  whatsoever,  or  in  or  about  any  business, 
exhibition  or  vocation  injurious  to  the  health  or  dangerous  to  the  life 
or  limb  of  such  child,  or  cause,  procure  or  encourage  any  such  child 
to  engage  therein. 

Section  1447.  Life  or  Health  Endangered.  No  person  shall 
take,  receive,  hire,  employ,  use,  exhibit  or  have  in  custody  any  child 
under  the  age  of  fourteen  years  for  the  purpose  of  employing  such 
child  in  the  manner  expressly  prohibited  in  the  provisions  of  section 
1446,  and  no  person  having  the  care  or  custody  of  any  child  shall  wil- 
fully cause  or  permit  such  child  to  be  placed  in  such  a situation  that 
its  life  or  health  may  be  endangered. 

Section  1448.  Penalty.  Any  person  who  violates,  neglects  or 
refuses  to  comply  with  any  of  the  provisions  of  sections  1446  and  1447, 
or  is  guilty  of  cruelty  to  any  child  in  any  of  the  ways  mentioned 
herein,  viz. : 

1.  By  cruelly  beating,  torturing,  overworking,  mutilating  or  caus- 
ing or  knowingly  allowing  the  same  to  be  done. 

2.  By  unnecessarily  failing  to  provide  any  child  in  his  or  her 
charge  or  custody  with  proper  food,  drink,  shelter  or  raiment. 

3.  By  abandoning  any  child;  or  who  shall  wilfully  or  unnecessarily 
expose  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  or  shall  wilfully  or  unnec- 
essarily in  any  manner  injure  in  health  or  limb  any  child  under  the 
age  of  fourteen  years  shall  for  each  offense  be  fined  not  less  than  five 
dollars  nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars. 

Section  1586.  Employees  Under  Sixteen  Prohibited.  No 
person  licensed  as  aforesaid  shall  permit  any  person  under  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  to  take  pledges  in  pawn  for  him. 


334 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


APPENDIX  XXIV. 

An  Ordinance  Licensing  Fruit  Stores  and  Ice  Cream  Parlors, 
Passed  May  28,  1906.^ 

Be  It  Ordained  by  the  City  Council  of  the  City  of  Chicago : 

Section  1.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  person  to  keep,  con- 
duct or  manage  any  retail  fruit  store,  or  ice  cream  parlor  in  this  city 
unless  a license  therefor  is  first  obtained. 

Section  2.  Any  person  desiring  a license  to  keep,  conduct  or  manage 
a retail  fruit  store  or  ice  cream  parlor,  shall  make  written  application 
therefor  to  the  Mayor,  setting  forth  the  full  name  of  the  applicant  and 
the  location  of  the  place  at  which  such  sales  are  proposed  to  be  made. 
Such  application  shall  be  accompanied  by  evidence  satisfactory  to  the 
Mayor  that  the  applicant  is  a person  of  good  character,  and  if  the 
Mayor  shall  be  satisfied  that  such  person  is  of  good  character  and  a 
proper  person  to  have  such  license,  he  shall  cause  the  City  Clerk  to 
issue  a license  to  such  applicant  upon  the  payment  to  the  City  Col- 
lector of  a license  fee  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  dollars  ($25.00)  per 
annum,  for  each  fruit  store  and  ten  dollars  ($10.00)  per  annum  for 
each  ice  cream  parlor.  No  such  license  shall  issue  until  the  applicant 
shall  file  with  the  City  Clerk  a bond,  with  sureties  to  be  approved  by 
the  Mayor  in  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  ($500.00),  conditioned 
that  the  licensed  person  will  faithfully  observe  and  obey  all  laws  of 
the  State  of  Illinois  and  of  all  ordinances  of  this  city  now  in  force  or 
which  may  hereafter  be  passed  for  the  government  of  such  places. 
Every  such  place  shall  be  open  to  inspection  by  the  probation  officers 
at  all  times  it  is  open  for  business. 

Section  3.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  any  person  owning,  con- 
ducting or  managing  a retail  fruit  store  or  an  ice  cream  parlor  to 
allow  any  male  person  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  or  any  female 
person  under  the  age  of  eighteen  to  be  or  remain  in  such  place  between 
the  hours  of  10  P.  M.  and  7 A.  M.,  unless  accompanied  by  one  or 
both  parents,  or  to  maintain  or  have  any  curtains  or  screen  or  parti- 
tions of  any  kind  that  will  sen^e  to  divide  such  place  into  small  rooms 
or  compartments. 

Section  4.  Every  person  convicted  of  a violation  of  any  pro- 
vision of  this  ordinance  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  five  dollars  ($5.00) 
nor  more  than  one  hundred  dollars  ($100.00)  for  each  and  every 
offense. 

Section  5.  This  ordinance  shall  be  in  full  force  and  effect  from 
and  after  its  passage  and  due  publication.  , 

^An  injunction  has  been  issued  restraining  the  operation  of  this 
ordinance. 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


335 


APPENDIX  XXV. 

Laws  Governing  Free  Employment  Offices  and  Private  Em- 
ployment Agencies  in  Illinois,  as  Amended  and  in  Force  on  and 
from  July  1,  1909.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chap- 
ter 48,  Sections  67f,  67h. 

Section  67f.  Character  of  Employment — Fraud.  No  such 
licensed  person  shall  send,  or  cause  to  be  sent,  any  female  help  or 
servants,  or  inmate  or  performer,  to  enter  any  questionable  place  or 
place  of  bad  repute,  house  of  ill-fame,  or  assignation  house,  or  to  any 
house  or  place  of  amusement  kept  for  immoral  purposes,  or.  place 
resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  prostitution,  or  gambling  house,  the 
character  of  which  such  licensed  person  knows,  either  actually  or  by 
reputation. 

No  such  licensed  person  shall  knowingly  permit  questionable  char- 
acters, prostitutes,  gamblers,  intoxicated  persons,  or  procurers  to  fre- 
quent such  agency.  No  such  licensed  person  shall  accept  any  appli- 
cation for  employment  made  by  or  on  behalf  of  any  child,  or  shall 
place  or  assist  in  placing  any  such  child  in  any  employment  what- 
ever, in  violation  of  the  child  labor  law,  approved  May  15,  1903,  and 
in  force  July  1,  1903,  and  an  Act  to  regulate  the  employment  of 
children,  approved  June  9,  1897,  and  in  force  July  1,  1897.  For 
the  violation  of  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  section,  the  penalty 
shall  be  a fine  of  not  less  than  fifty  dollars  ($50)  and  not  more  than 
two  hundred  dollars  ($200),  or  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  or 
house  of  correction  for  a period  of  not  more  than  one  year,  or  both, 
at  the  discretion  of  the  court,  in  addition  to  the  revocation  of  such 
person’s  license.  No  such  licensed  person  shall  publish  or  cause  to 
be  published  any  fraudulent  notice  or  advertisments  of  such  employ- 
ment agencies  by  means  of  cards,  circulars  or  signs,  and  in  newspa- 
pers and  other  publications ; and  all  of  its  letter  heads,  receipts  and 
blanks  shall  contain  the  name  and  address  of  such  employment  agency, 
and  shall  state  in  all  such  notices  the  fact  that  such  licensed  person 
is  or  conducts  an  employment  agency.  No  agency  shall  print,  pub- 
lish or  paint  on  any  sign,  window,  or  insert  in  any  newspaper  or 
publication  a naiue  similar  to  that  of  the  Illinois  Free  Employment 
Office.  All  written  communications  sent  out  by  such  licensed  person, 
directly  or  indirectly,  to  any  person  in  regard  to  help  or  employment, 
shall  have  contained  therein  definite  information,  that  such  person 
is  an  employment  agent ; and  no  such  licensed  person  shall  knowingly 
give  any  false  information  or  make  any  false  promise  concerning 
employment  to  any  applicant  who  shall  register  for  employment  or 
help.  No  such  licensed  agent  shall  divide  fees  with  or  pay  a com- 
mission to  any  person  to  whom  applicants  are  sent  for  employment 
or  help. 

Section  67h.  Enforcement.  The  enforcement  of  this  Act  shall 
be  entrusted  to  the  State  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Labor,  and  an 


336 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


officer  to  be  known  as  the  Chief  Inspector  of  Private  Employment 
Agencies,  which  officer  shall  be  recommended  by  the  State  Board  of 
Commissioners  of  Labor  and  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  the  state 
and  whose  term  of  office  shall  be  for  the  period  of  the  incumbency 
of  the  Governor  appointing  him,  or  until  his  successor  is  appointed. 
He  may  appoint  by  and  with  the  approval  of  the  Governor  one  (1)  in- 
spector for  every  fifty  (50)  licensed  agencies  or  major  fraction  thereof, 
who  shall  make  at  least  bi-monthly  visits  to  every  such  agency.  Said 
inspectors  shall  have  a suitable  badge  which  they  shall  exhibit  on  de- 
mand of  any  person  with  whom  they  may  have  official  business.  Such 
inspectors  shall  see  that  all  the  provisions  of  this  Act  are  complied 
with,  and  shall  have  no  other  occupation  or  business.  Complaints 
against  any  such  licensed  person  may  be  made  orally  or  in  writing 
to  the  State  Board  of  Labor  Commissioners  or  to  the  Chief  Inspector 
of  Private  Employment  Agencies,  and  reasonable  notice  thereof,  not 
less  than  one  (1)  day,  shall  be  given  in  writing  to  said  licensed  per- 
son by  serving  upon  him  concise  statement  of  the  facts  constituting 
the  complaint,  and  the  hearing  shall  be  had  before  the  State  Board  of 
Labor  Commissioners  or  the  Chief  Inspector  of  Private  Employment 
Agencies  as  the  State  board  aforesaid,  shall  designate,  within  one 
week  from  the  date  of  the  filing  of  the  complaint  and  no  adjourn- 
ment shall  be  taken  for  a period  longer  than  one  (1)  week.  Reason- 
able notice  of  the  place  of  hearing  of  any  complaint  shall  be  given 
to  such  licensed  person  complained  against.  A calendar  of  all  hear- 
ings shall  be  kept  by  the  State  Board  of  Labor  Commissioners  of 
the  complaints  they  are  to  hear,  and  by  the  chief  inspector  of  those 
he  is  to  hear,  and  shall  be  posted  in  a conspicuous  place  in  its  or  his 
public  office  for  at  least  one  (1)  day  before  the  date  of  such  hearing. 
The  result  of  such  hearings  shall  be  rendered  within  eight  (8)  days 
from  the  time  the  matter  is  finally  submitted.  The  said  State  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  Labor  may  refuse  to  issue  and  may  revoke  any 
license  for  any  good  cause  shown  within  the  meaning  and  purpose 
of  this  Act,  and  when  it  is  shown  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  said  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  Labor  that  any  person  is  guilty  of  any  immoral, 
fraudulent  or  illegal  conduct  in  connection  with  the  conduct  of  said 
business,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  Board  of  Commissioners  of  La- 
bor to  revoke  the  license  of  such  person,  but  notice  of  such  charges 
shall  be  presented  and  reasonalde  opportunity  shall  be  given  said  li- 
censed person  to  defend  himself  in  the  manner  and  form  heretofore 
provided  in  this  section  of  the  Act.  Whenever  said  Board  of  Com- 
missioners of  Labor  shall  refuse  to  issue  or  shall  revoke  the  license 
of  any  such  employment  agency,  said  determination  shall  be  subject 
to  review  on  writ  of  certiorari.  Whenever  for  any  cause  such  license 
is  revoked  said  revocation  shall  not  take  efifect  until  seven  (7)  days 
after  such  revocation  is  officially  announced,  and  such  revocation  shall 
be  considered  good  cause  for  refusing  to  issue  another  license  to  said 
person  or  his  representative,  or  to  any  person  with  whom  he  is  to  be 
associated  in  the  business  of  furnishing  employment  or  help.  The  vio- 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


337 


latioii  of  any  provision  of  this  Act  except  as  provided  in  section  one 
(1)  and  six  (6),  shall  be  punishable  by  a fine  not  to  exceed  twenty- 
five  dollars  ($25),  and  any  city  magistrate,  judge  of  a municipal  court, 
police  justice,  justice  of  the  peace  or  any  inferior  magistrate  having 
original  jurisdiction  in  criminal  cases,  shall  have  power  to  impose  said 
fine,  and  in  default  of  payment  thereof  to  commit  to  the  county  jail 
or  house  of  correction  the  person  so  ofifending  for  a period  not  ex- 
. ceeding  thirty  (30)  days.  The  said  State  Board  of  Labor  Commis- 
sioners or  the  Chief  Inspector  of  Employment  Agencies  or  any  of  the 
inspectors  created  by  this  Act,  may  institute  criminal  proceedings  for 
its  enforcement  before  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction.  The 
State  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Labor  shall  employ  legal  advice  or 
services  whenever  in  its  opinion  such  advice  or  services  are  necessary 
in  or  to  the  enforcement  of  this  Act. 

APPENDIX  XXVI. 

Payment  of  Wages  Due  Laborers,  Servants  and  Employes 
FROM  Corporations  Doing  Business  in  this  State.  Hurd’s  Revised 
Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  48,  Sections  16,  17,  18  and  19. 

“An  Act  to  regulate  and  enforce  the  payment  of  wages  due 
laborers,  servants  and  employes  from  corporations  doing 
business  in  this  state.”  (Approved  May  14th,  1903.  In 
force  July  1,  1903.  L.  1903,  p.  198;  Legal  News  Ed.,  p. 
155.) 

Section  16.  Unlawful  for  Such  Corporation  to  Withhold 
FROM  Its  Laborers,  Servants  or  Employes  Wages  Beyond  Date  of 
Regular  Pay  Day,  etc. — Proviso.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  Assembly,  It  shall  be  un- 
lawful for  any  corporation  doing  business  within  this  state  to  with- 
hold from  any  of  its  laborers,  servants  or  employes  any  part  or  per 
cent,  of  the  wages  earned  by  such  laborer,  servant  or  employe,  beyond 
the  date  of  the  regular  pay  day  of  said  corporation,  under  the  guise  or 
pretext,  that  the  amount  of  wages  so  withheld,  is  to  be  given  or  pre- 
sented to  such  laborer,  servant  or  employe,  as  a present  or  gratuity 
from  said  corporation  at  the  expiration  of  any  future  date,  on  condi- 
tion that  the  services  of  such  laborer,  servant  or  employe  have  been 
performed  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  said  corporation  or  upon  condi- 
tion that  such  laborer,  servant  or  employe  shall,  unless  sooner  dis- 
charged by  said  corporation,  remain  in  its  employ  until  the  expiration 
of  some  future  date  designated  by  said  corporation,  or  under  any  other 
similar  pretext  or  condition,  but  all  such  wages  shall  be  paid  in  full  by 
said  corporation  on  its  regular  pay  day,  Provided,  that  nothing  in  this 
act  contained  shall  be  held  to  abridge  the  right  of  any  corporation  not 
making  or  requiring  contracts  of  the  class  specified  above  to  make  such 
contract  or  arrangement  as  may  be  legal,  concerning  the  payment  of 
wages  to  employes,  and.  Provided,  further,  nothing  herein  contained 
shall  be  construed  to  affect  the  right  of  any  corporation  to  contract  for 


338 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


the  retention  of  a part  of  the  wages  of  said  laborers,  servants  and  em- 
ployes for  the  purpose  of  giving  to  said  servants,  laborers  and  em- 
ployes insurance,  hospital,  sick  or  other  similar  relief. 

Section  17.  Such  Contracts  Made  by  Any  Corporation  are 
Illegal,  Against  Public  Policy  and  Void.  That  all  contracts  or 
agreements  of  the  kind  and  character  referred  to  and  described  in 
Section  1 of  this  act  hereafter  made  by  any  corporation  doing  business 
in  this  state,  are  hereby  declared  to  be  illegal,  against  public  policy  and 
null  and  void,  and  no  such  agreement  or  contract  shall  constitute  a 
defense  upon  the  part  of  any  such  corporation,  to  any  action  brought 
by  any  such  laborer,  servant  or  employe,  for  the  recovery  of  any  wages 
due  him,  and  withheld  from  him  by  any  such  corporation,  contrary  to 
the  provision  of  this  act. 

Section  18.  Penalty  for  Violating  Provisions  of  This  Act. 
That  any  such  corporation  doing  business  in  this  state  who  shall  violate 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  shall  for  each  offense,  forfeit  the  sum  of 
two  hundred  dollars  to  be  recovered  from  it  in  any  action  of  debt  in 
the  name  of  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  or  by  any  person  who 
may  sue  for  the  same. 

Section  19.  Duty  of  State’s  Attorneys.  It  is  hereby  made  the 
duty  of  the  several  state’s  attorneys  of  this  state  in  their  respective 
counties,  to  prosecute  all  actions  commenced  in  the  name  of  the  People 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  under  the  provisions  of  this  act. 


APPENDIX  XXVII. 

Extracts  from  an  Act  to  regulate  the  Practice  of  Medicine  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  and  to  repeal  an  Act  therein  named,  approved 
April  24,  1899,  as  amended  by  Acts  Approved  June  4,  1907,  and 
January  25,  1908.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909), 
Sections  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  13,  14  and  16,  Chapter  91. 

The  following  Sections  apply  also  to  IMidwives : 

Section  6.  Licenses  from  State  Board  of  Health  Required 
— Applications  for  Licenses — Examinations — Graduates  of  Le- 
gally Chartered  Medical  Colleges  in  Illinois  in  Good  Standing 
Granted  Certificates.  No  person  shall  hereafter  begin  the  practice 
of  medicine  or  any  of  the  branches  thereof,  or  midwifen,-,  in  this  state 
without  first  applying  for  and  obtaining  a license  from  the  State  Board 
of  Health  to  do  so.  Application  shall  be  in  writing,  and  shall  be  ac- 
companied by  the  examination  fees  hereinafter  specified,  and  with 
proof  that  the  applicant  is  of  good  moral  character.  Application  from 
candidates  who  desire  to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  in  all  their 
branches  shall  be  accompanied  by  proof  that  the  applicant  is  a gradu- 
ate of  a medical  college  or  institution  in  good  standing,  as  may  be 
determined  by  the  Board.  \Mien  the  application  aforesaid  has  been 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


339 


inspected  by  the  Board  and  found  to  comply  with  the  foregoing  pro- 
visions, the  Board  shall  notify  the  applicant  to  appear  before  it  for  ex- 
amination, at  the  time  and  place  mentioned  in  such  notice. 

Examinations  may  be  made  in  whole  or  in  part  in  writing  by  the 
Board,  and  shall  be  of  a character  sufficiently  strict  to  test  the  quali- 
fications of  the  candidate  as  a practitioner.  The  examination  of  those 
who  desire  to  practice  medicine  and  surgery  in  all  their  branches  shall 
embrace  those  general  subjects  and  topics,  a knowledge  of  which  is 
commonly  and  generally  required  of  candidates  for  the  degree  of  doc- 
tor of  medicine,  by  reputable  medical  colleges  in  the  United  States. 
The  examination  of  those  who  desire  to  practice  midwifery  shall  be 
of  such  a character  as  to  determine  the  qualification  of  the  applicant  to 
practice  midwifery.  The  examination  of  those  who  desire  to  practice 
any  other  system  or  science  of  treating  human  ailments  who  do  not  use 
medicines  internally  or  externally,  and  who  do  not  practice  operative 
surgery  shall  be  of  a character  sufficiently  strict  to  test  their  qualifica- 
tions as  practitioners. 

All  examinations  provided  for  in  this  act  shall  be  conducted  under 
rules  and  regulations  prescribed  by  the  Board,  which  shall  provide 
for  a fair  and  wholly  impartial  method  of  examination : Provided,  that 
graduates  of  legally  chartered  medical  colleges  in  Illinois  in  good  stand- 
ing as  may  be  determined  by  the  Board  may  be  granted  certificates 
without  examinations. 

Section  7.  License  to  Practice — Provisions.  If  the  appli- 
cant successfully  passes  his  examination,  or  presents  a diploma  from 
a legally  chartered  medical  college  in  Illinois  of  good  standing,  the 
Board  shall  issue  to  such  applicant  a license  authorizing  him  to  prac- 
tice medicine,  midwifery  or  other  system  of  treating  human  ailments, 
as  the  case  may  be : Provided,  that  those  who  are  authorized  to  prac- 
tice other  systems  can  not  use  medicine  internally  or  externally  or 
perform  surgical  operations : Provided,  further,  that  only  those  who 
are  authorized  to  practice  medicine  and  surgery,  in  all  their  branches 
shall  call  or  advertise  themselves  as  physicians  or  doctors : And  pro- 
vided, further,  that  those  who  are  authorized  to  practice  midwifery 
shall  not  use  any  drug  or  medicine  or  attend  other  cases  of  labor. 
Such  license  shall  be  in  such  form  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Board 
and  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act : Provided,  however, 
that  any  wilful  violation  on  the  part  of  an  applicant  of  any  of  the 
rules  and  regulations  of  the  Board  governing  examinations  shall  be 
sufficient  cause  for  the  Board  to  refuse  to  issue  a license  to  such 
applicant.  Such  certificates  shall  be  signed  by  all  members  of  the 
Board  and  attested  by  the  Secretary. 

Section  8.  Certificates  to  Be  Recorded  in  Office  of  County 
Clerk — Records  of  County  Clerk.  Every  person  holding  a cer- 
tificate from  the  State  Board  of  Health  shall  have  it  recorded  in  the 
office  of  the  clerk  of  the  county  in  which  he  resides  or  practices  within 
three  months  from  its  date,  and  the  date  of  recording  shall  be  en- 
dorsed thereon.  Until  such  certificate  is  recorded,  as  herein  provided, 


340 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


the  holder  thereof  shall  not  exercise  any  of  the  rights  or  privileges 
conferred  therein.  Any  person  practicing  in  another  county  shall 
record  the  certificate  in  like  manner  in  the  county  in  which  he  prac- 
tices, and  the  holder  of  the  certificate  shall  pay  to  the  county  clerk 
the  usual  fee  for  making  the  record.  The  county  clerk  shall  keep,  in 
a book  provided  for  the  purpose,  a complete  list  of  the  certificates 
recorded  by  him,  with  the  date  of  the  issue  of  the  certificate.  The 
register  of  the  county  clerk  shall  be  open  to  public  inspection  during 
business  hours. 

Section  9.  Examination  Fees.  The  fees  for  examination  and 
for  a certificate  shall  be  as  follows:  Ten  (10)  dollars  for  examina- 
tion in  medicine  and  surgery,  and  five  (5)  dollars  for  a certificate  if 
issued.  Five  (5)  dollars  for  an  examination  in  midwifery,  and  three 
(3)  dollars  for  a certificate  if  issued.  For  all  other  practitioners  ten 
(10)  dollars  for  an  examination  and  five  (5)  dollars  for  a certificate 
if  issued. 

Section  10.  Unprofessional  or  Dishonorable  Conduct — 
Board  May  Withhold  or  Revoke  Certificates — Hearing.  The 
State  Board  of  Health  may  refuse  to  issue  the  certificates  provided 
for  in  this  act  to  individuals  who  have  been  convicted  of  the  practice 
of  criminal  abortion,  or  who  have  by  false  or  fraudulent  representa- 
tion, obtained  or  sought  to  obtain  practice  in  their  profession,  or  by 
false  or  fraudulent  representation  of  their  profession  have  obtained 
or  sought  to  obtain  money  or  any  other  thing  of  value,  or  who  adver- 
tise under  names  other  than  their  own,  or  for  any  other  unprofessional 
or  dishonorable  conduct,  and  the  Board  may  revoke  such  certificates 
for  like  causes.  Provided,  that  no  certificates  shall  be  revoked  or 
refused  until  the  holder  or  applicant  shall  be  given  a hearing  before 
the  Board. 

Section  11.  Definition  of  This  Act.  Any  person  shall  be  re- 
garded as  practicing  medicine,  within  the  meaning  of  this  act,  who 
shall  treat  or  profess  to  treat,  operate  on  or  prescribe  for  any  physi- 
cal ailment  or  any  phvsical  injury  to  or  deformity  of  another:  Pro- 
vided, that  nothing  in  this  section  shall  be  construed  to  apply  to  the 
administration  of  domestic  or  familv  remedies  in  cases  of  emergency, 
or  to  the  laws  regulating  the  practice  of  dentistry  or  of  pharmacy. 
And  this  act  shall  not  apply  to  surgeons  of  the  United  States  army, 
navy  or  marine  hospital  service  in  the  discharge  of  their  official  duties, 
or  to  any  person  who  ministers  to  or  treats  the  sick  or  suffering  bv 
mental  or  spiritual  means,  without  the  use  of  any  drug  or  material 
remedy. 

Section  13.  Penalty  for  Practicing  Without  License.  Ariy 
person  practicing  medicine  or  surgery  or  treating  human  ailments  in 
the  state  without  a certificate  issued  by  this  Board  in  compliance  with 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  or  any  itinerant  vender  violating  the  pro- 
visions of  section  8 of  this  act,  shall  for  each  and  ever\'^  instance  of 
such  practice  or  violation  forfeit  and  pay  to  the  people  of  the  State  of 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


341 


Illinois,  for  the  use  of  the  said  Board  of  Health,  the  sum  of  one  hun- 
dred (100)  dollars  for  the  first  offense,  and  two  hundred  (200)  dol- 
lars for  each  subsequent  offense,  the  same  to  be  recovered  in  an  action 
of  debt  before  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  and  any  person 
filing  or  attempting  to  file  as  his  own  the  diploma  or  certificate  of 
another,  or  a forged  affidavit  of  identification,  shall  be  guilty  of  a fel- 
ony, and  upon  conviction  shall  be  subject  to  such  fine  and  imprison- 
ment as  are  made  and  provided  by  the  statutes  of  the  state  for  a crime 
of  forgery:  Provided,  that  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  physicians 
who  hold  unrevoked  certificates  from  the  State  Board  of  Health  issued 
prior  to  the  tmie  of  the  taking  effect  of  this  act. 

Section  14.  Enforcing  Penalties — Appeals.  Upon  conviction 
of  either  of  the  offenses  mentioned  in  this  act  the  court  shall,  as  a 
part  of  the  judgment,  order  that  the  defendant  be  committed  to  the 
common  jail  of  the  county  until  the  fine  and  costs  are  paid,  and  upon 
failure  to  pay  the  same  immediately  the  defendant  shall  be  committed 
under  said  order  for  first  offense  not  more  than  thirty  (30)  days,  and 
for  each  subsequent  offense  not  more  than  ninety  (90)  days : Provided, 
that  either  party  may  appeal  in  the  same  time  and  manner  as  appeals 
may  be  taken  in  other  cases,  except  that  where  an  appeal  is  prayed  in 
behalf  of  the  people,  no  appeal  bond  shall  be  required  to  be  filed, 
whether  the  appeal  be  from  justice  of  the  peace  or  from  the  county 
or  circuit  courts,  or  from  the  appellate  court.  But  it  shall  be  sufficient 
in  behalf  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  for  the  use  of  the  State 
Board  of  Health,  to  pray  an  appeal,  and  thereupon  appeal  may  be  had 
without  bond  or  security. 

Section  16.  Repeal.  An  act  to  regulate  the  practice  of  medicine 
in  the  State  of  Illinois,  approved  June  17,  1887,  in  force  July  1,  1887, 
and  all  other  acts  and  parts  of  acts  inconsistent  with  this  act  are  hereby 
repealed. 

APPENDIX  XXVHI. 

Abortion.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  38, 
Sections  3,  4,  5,  6. 

Section  3.  Producing.  Whoever,  by  means  of  any  instrument, 
medicine,  drug  or  other  means  whatever,  causes  any  woman,  pregnant 
with  child,  to  abort  or  miscarry,  or  attempts  to  procure  or  produce  an 
abortion  or  miscarriage,  unless  the  same  were  done  as  necessary  for 
the  preservation  of  the  mother’s  life,  shall  be  imprisoned  in  the  peni- 
tentiary not  less  than  one  year  nor  more  than  ten  years;  or  if  the 
death  of  the  mother  results  therefrom,  the  person  procuring  or  causing 
the  abortion  or  miscarriage  shall  be  guilty  or  murder.  (R.  S.  1845, 
p.  158,  Section  46;  L.  1867,  p.  89,  Sections  1,  2,  3.) 

Section  4.  Ecbolic,  or  Abortifacient  Drugs.  If  any  druggist, 
dealer  in  medicine,  or  other  person,  sells  to  any  person  any  drug  or 
medicine,  known  or  presumed  to  be  ecbolic  or  abortifacient,  except 


342 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


upon  the  written  prescription  of  some  well  known  and  respectable 
practicing  physician,  or  keeps  on  hand,  or  advertises  or  exposes  for 
sale,  or  sells  any  pills,  powders,  drugs  or  combination  of  drugs  de- 
signed especially  for  the  use  of  females,  without  keeping  the  certifi- 
cate as  required  in  the  next  succeeding  section,  he  shall  for  each  offense 
be  fined  not  less  than  $50  nor  more  than  $500,  or  be  confined  in  the 
county  jail  not  less  than  thirty  days  nor  more  than  six  months,  or 
both;  Provided,  This  section  shall  not  be  construed  to  apply  to  com- 
pounds known  as  “Officinal.”  (L.  1871-2,  p.  369.) 

Section  5.  Certificate  Required.  Before  any  pills,  powders, 
drugs  or  combination  of  drugs  designed  expressly  for  the  use  of  fe- 
males, shall  be  kept  or  exposed  for  sale  or  sold,  the  proprietor  thereof 
shall  submit  under  oath  a true  statement  of  the  formula  by  which  the 
same  is  compounded,  to  five  well  known  and  respectable  practicing 
physicians,  in  the  county  where  the  same  is  proposed  to  be  sold,  and 
shall  procure  their  certificate,  signed  and  verified  by  the  affidavit  of 
each  of  them,  that  such  combination  is  not  abortifacient ; and  every 
person  keeping  on  hand,  or  in  any  manner  advertising  or  exposing  for 
sale  or  selling  such  combination,  shall  keep  such  certificate,  or  a sworn 
copy  thereof,  with  the  formula  attached,  for  the  inspection  of  any  per- 
son desiring  to  see  the  same.  (L.  1871-2,  p.  369.) 

Section  6.  Advertising  Abortifacient  Drugs.  Whosoever  adver- 
tises, prints,  publishes,  distributes  or  circulates,  or  causes  to  be  adver- 
tised, printed,  published,  distributed  or  circulated  any  pamphlet,  printed 
paper,  book,  newspaper,  notice,  advertisement  or  reference,  containing 
words  or  language  giving  or  conveying  any  notice,  hint  or  reference  to 
any  person,  or  to  the  name  of  any  person,  real  or  fictitious,  from  whom, 
or  to  any  place,  house,  shop  or  office  where  any  poison,  drug,  mixture, 
preparation,  medicine,  or  noxious  thing,  or  any  instrument  or  means 
whatever,  or  any  advice,  information,  direction  or  knowledge  may  be 
obtained  for  the  purpose  of  causing  or  procuring  the  miscarriage  of 
any  woman  pregnant  Avith  child,  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment 
not  exceeding  three  years,  or  fine  not  exceeding  $1,000. 


APPENDIX  XXIX. 

Itinerant  Vendor  of  Any  Drugs  to  Pay  a License  of  $100  per 
Month.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  91, 
Sections  12,  13,  14  and  15. 

Section  12.  That  any  itinerant  vender  of  drug,  nostrum,  oint- 
ment or  appliance  of  any  kind  intended  for  the  treatment  of  diseases  or 
injury,  who  shall,  by  Avriting  or  printing,  or  any  other  method,  profess 
to  the  public  to  cure  or  treat  disease  or  deformity  by  any  drug,  nostrum 
or  application,  shall  pay  a license  of  one  hundred  dollars  ($100)  per 
month  into  the  treasury  of  the  Board,  to  be  collected  by  the  Board  in 
the  name  of  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  for  the  use  of  said 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


343 


j Board.  And  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  State  Board  of  Health  to  issue 
I such  license  on  application  made  to  said  Board,  said  license  to  be  signed 
I by  the  president  of  the  Board  and  attested  by  the  secretary  with  the  seal 
I of  the  Board;  but  said  Board  may,  for  sufficient  cause,  refuse  said 
I license.  And  such  itinerant  vender  who  shall,  by  writing  or  printing, 
[ or  any  other  method,  profess  to  cure  or  treat  disease  or  deformity  by 
any  drug,  nostrum  or  appliance  without  a license  so  to  do,  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a violation  of  this  section,  and  upon  conviction  shall 
be  subject  to  the  penalties  hereinafter  provided. 

Section  13.  Practicing  Without  Certificate  — Penalty.  Any 
person  practicing  medicine  or  surgery  or  treating  human  ailments  in 
the  state  without  a certificate  issued  by  this  Board  in  compliance  with 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  or  any  itinerant  vender  violating  the  provi- 
sions of  Section  8 of  this  act,  shall  for  each  and  every  instance  of  such 
practice  or  violation  forfeit  and  pay  to  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois, for  the  use  of  the  said  Board  of  Health,  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
(100)  dollars  for  the  first  offense,  and  two  hundred  (200)  dollars  for 
each  subsequent  offense,  the  same  to  be  recovered  in  an  action  of  debt 
before  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  and  any,  person  filing  or 
attempting  to  file  as  his  own  the  diploma  or  certificate  of  another,  or 
a forged  affidavit  of  identification,  shall  be  guilty  of  a felony,  and  upon 
conviction  shall  be  subject  to  such  fine  and  imprisonment  as  are  made 
and  provided  by  the  statutes  of  the  State  for  a crime  of  forgery : Pro- 
vided, that  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  physicians  whO'  hold  unre- 
voked certificates  from  the  State  Board  of  Health,  issued  prior  to  the 
time  of  the  taking  effect  of  this  act. 

Section  14.  Conviction  Under  This  Act — Proceedings.  Upon 
conviction  of  either  of  the  offenses  mentioned  in  this  act  the  court 
shall,  as  a part  of  the  judgment,  order  that  the  defendant  be  committed 
to  the  common  jail  in  the  county  until  the  fine  and  costs  are  paid,  and 
upon  failure  to  pay  the  same  immediately  the  defendant  shall  be  com- 
mitted under  said  order  for  first  offense  not  more  than  thirty  (30) 
days,  and  for  each  subsequent  offense  not  more  than  ninety  (90)  days: 
Provided,  That  either  party  may  appeal  in  the  same  time  and  manner 
as  appeals  may  be  taken  in  other  cases,  except  that  where  an  appeal 
is  prayed  in  behalf  of  the  people,  no  appeal  bond  shall  be  required  to 
be  filed,  whether  the  appeal  be  from  a justice  of  the  peace  or  from  the 
county  or  circuit  courts,  or  from  the  appellate  court.  But  it  shall  be 
sufficient  in  behalf  of  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  for  the  use 
of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  to  pray  an  appeal,  and  thereupon  appeal 
may  be  had  without  bond  or  security. 

Section  15.  State  Board  of  Health — Report  of.  On  the  30th 
day  of  September  of  each  year  the  State  Board  of  Health  shall  make 
report  of  its  proceedings,  showing  all  items  of  receipts  from  all  sources 
and  disbursements  for  all  purposes,  and  all  funds  in  the  treasury  on 
said  date  which  have  been  received  in  the  enforcement  of  this  act  shall 
be  paid  into  the  state  treasury. 


344 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


APPENDIX  XXX. 

Impure  Literature  Relating  to  Diseases.  Advertisements  Pro- 
hibited, AND  Advertising  Quack  Nostrums.  Revised  Municipal 
Code  of  Chicago  (1905),  Sections  1461,  1462-1463  and  1471. 

Section  1461.  No  person  shall  sell  or  offer  to  sell,  give  away  or 
offer  to  give  away,  distribute  or  have  in  his  possession  with  intent  to 
give  away,  sell  or  distribute  in  or  upon  any  street  or  sidewalk,  or 
park  or  public  property  of  the  city,  any  book,  pamphlet,  circular,  hand- 
bill, advertisement  or  notice  of  any  kind  purporting  to  treat  of  or 
treating  of  diseases  known  as  “venereal  diseases,”  describing  or  ex- 
plaining or  purporting  to  describe  or  explain  the  genital  organs,  giv- 
ing or  purporting  to  give  the  nature  and  remedies  of  diseases  peculiar 
to  females,  uterine  diseases,  or  the  nature  or  cause  of  nervous  debil- 
ity, impotency,  sterility  or  barrenness,  gonorrhea,  gleet,  stricture,  syph- 
ilis, affection  of  the  prostate  gland  or  the  remedies  therefor,  or  the 
cause  or  remedies  for  abortion  or  miscarriage  or  articles  or  means 
of  preventing  conception,  under  a penalty  of  not  less  than  twenty  dol- 
lars nor  more  than  fifty  dollars  for  each  offense. 

Section  1462.  No  person  shall  sell  or  offer  to  sell,  give  away 
or  offer  to  give  away,  distribute  or  have  in  his  possession  with  intent 
to  give  away,  sell  or  distribute  in  or  upon  any  street,  sidewalk,  park 
or  public  property  in  the  city,  any  book,  pamphlet,  circular,  handbill, 
advertisement  or  notice  of  any  kind  giving  or  purporting  to  give  in- 
formation from  whom  or  where  medicine  or  anything  whatever  may 
be  obtained  for  the  cure,  prevention  or  treatment  of  uterine  diseases, 
or  diseases  peculiar  to  females,  venereal  diseases,  or  diseases  of  the 
genital  organs,  or  nervous  debility,  impotence,  sterility,  or  barrenness, 
gonorrhea,  gleet,  stricture,  syphilis,  affection  of  the  prostate  gland, 
abortion  or  miscarriage,  or  articles  or  means  of  preventing  conception. 
Any  person  or  corporation  violating  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  sec- 
tion, shall  be  fined  not  less  than  twenty-five  nor  more  than  two  hundred 
dollars  for  each  offense. 

Certain  Advertisements  Prohibited  in  Newsp.\pers — Pex.\lty. 

Section  1463.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  advertise, 
print  or  publish,  or  cause  to  be  advertised,  printed  or  published,  in  any 
newspaper  or  other  publication  having  a general  circulation  in  the  city, 
or  which  is  sold  or  offered  for  sale  within  the  city,  any  advertisement, 
notice  or  mention  of  any  kind  whatsoever  giving  or  purporting  to  give 
any  information  of,  from  whom,  or  where,  apparatus,  medicine,  rem- 
edies or  alleged  cures  may  be  had  or  obtained  for  the  cure,  preven- 
tion or  treatment  of  uterine  diseases  or  of  diseases  peculiar  to  fe- 
males, or  of  venereal  diseases,  or  of  diseases  of  the  genital  organs, 
or  of  nervous  debility,  impotence,  sterility  or  barrenness,  or  of  gonor- 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


345 


rhea,  gleet,  stricture,  syphilis  or  afifection  of  the  prostate  gland,  or 
from  whom  or  where,  may  be  obtained  any  advice,  information,  direc- 
tion or  knowledge  of  any  drug,  medicine,  mixture,  preparation,  in- 
strument, apparatus  or  means  of  any  kind  whatever  for  the  purpose  of 
causing  or  procuring  a miscarriage  by  any  woman  pregnant  with  child, 
or  for  the  purpose  of  causing  or  producing  an  abortion,  or  for  the 
purpose  of  preventing  conception.  Any  person  violating  any  of  the 
provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  twenty-five  nor 
more  than  two  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 

Advertising  Quack  Nostrums. 

Section  1471.  No  person  shall  place  or  post,  or  cause  to  be 
placed  or  posted,  in  any  street  or  other  public  place  in  the  city  any 
handbill  or  advertisement  giving  notice  of  any  person  having  or  pro- 
fessing to  have  skill  in  the  treatment  or  curing  of  any  disorder  or 
disease,  or  giving  notice  of  the  sale  or  exposure  for  sale  of  any  nos- 
trum or  medicine,  under  a penalty  of  not  more  than  twenty-five  dol- 
lars for  each  offense. 


APPENDIX  XXXI. 

Obscene  Books,  etc.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois,  Chap- 
ter 38,  Sections  223  and  224. 

Section  223.  Circulating.  Whoever  brings,  or  causes  to  be 
brought  into  this  state,  for  sale  or  exhibition,  or  shall  sell  or  offer  to 
sell,  or  shall  give  away  or  offer  to  give  away,  or  have  in  his  possession, 
with  or  without  intent  to  sell  or  give  away,  any  obscene  and  indecent 
book,  pamphlet,  paper,  drawing,  lithograph,  engraving,  daguerreotype, 
photograph,  stereoscopic  picture,  model,  cast,  instrument  or  article  of 
indecent  or  immoral  use,  or  shall  advertise  the  same  for  sale,  or  write 
or  cause  to  be  written,  or  print  or  cause  to  be  printed,  any  circular, 
handbill,  card,  book,  pamphlet,  advertisement  or  notice  of  any  kind,  or 
shall  give  information  orally,  stating  when,  how,  or  of  whom,  or  by 
what  means  any  of  the  said  indecent  and  obscene  articles  and  things 
hereinbefore  mentioned  can  be  purchased  or  otherwise  obtained,  or 
shall  manufacture,  draw  and  expose,  or  draw  with  intent  to  sell,  or  to 
have  sold,  or  print  any  such  articles,  shall  be  confined  to  the  county 
jail  not  more  than  six  months,  or  be'  fined  not  less  than  $100  nor  more 
than  $1,000  for  each  oft'ense — one-half  of  said  fine  to  be  paid  to  the 
informer  upon  whose  evidence  the  person  so  offending  shall  be  con- 
victed, and  one-half  to  the  school  fund  of  the  county  in  which  the  said 
conviction  is  obtained.  (Section  1 of  act  approved  Mav  3,  1873. 
L.  1871-2,  p.  577,  Section  1 ; R.  S.  1845,  p.  174,  Section  128.) 

Section  224.  Depositing  with  Common  Carrier.  If  any  person 
shall  deposit  or  cause  to  be  deposited  in  any  postoffice  within  this  state, 


346 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


or  place  in  charge  of  any  express  company,  or  person  connected  there- 
with, or  of  any  common  carrier  or  other  person,  any  of  the  obscene  and 
indecent  articles  and  things  rnentioned  in  the  preceding  section,  or  any 
circular,  handbill,  card,  advertisement,  book,  pamphlet  or  notice  of  any 
kind,  or  shall  give  oral  information  stating  where,  how  or  of  whom 
such  indecent  and  obscene  articles  or  things  can  be  purchased  or  other- 
wise obtained  in  any  manner,  with  the  intent  of  having  the  same  con- 
veyed by  mail  or  express,  or  in  any  other  manner,  or  if  any  person 
shall  knowingly  or  willfully  receive  the  same  with  intent  to  carry  or 
convey,  or  shall  carry  or  convey  the  same  by  express,  or  in  any  other 
manner  (except  in  the  United  States  mail),  he  shall  be  subject,  for 
each  offense,  to  the  same  fines  and  penalties  as  are  prescribed  in  the 
preceding  section,  and  said  fine  shall  be  divided  and  paid  in  the  same 
manner  as  therein  provided.  (Section  2 of  act  approved  May  3, 
1873.) 


APPENDIX  XXXII. 

Obscene  or  Immoral  Pictures — Penalty.  Revised  ^Municipal 

Code  of  Chicago  (1905),  Section  177. 

Section  177.  No  person  or  corporation,  carrying  on  the  business 
of  bill  posting,  shall,  within  the  city,  post,  or  cause  to  be  posted,  so 
that  the  same  can  be  seen  from  the  streets,  alleys  or  other  public 
places  of  said  city,  any  advertisement  containing  pictures  or  illustra- 
tions of  an  obscene  or  immoral  character,  under  a penalty  of  not  less 
than  twenty-five  nor  more  than  two  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 


APPENDIX  XXXIII. 

Indecent  Literature — Immoral  Exhibitions.  Revised  Munici- 
pal Code  of  Chicago  (1905),  Section  1464. 

Section  1464.  No  person  shall  exhibit,  sell  or  offer  to  sell  or 
circulate  or  distribute  any  indecent  or  lewd  book,  picture  or  other 
thing  whatever  of  an  immoral  or  scandalous  nature,  or  shall  exhibit 
or  perform  any  indecent,  immoral  or  lewd  play  or  other  representa- 
tion, under  a penalty  of  not  less  than  twenty  dollars  nor  more  than 
one  hundred  dollars  for  each  offense. 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


347, 


APPENDIX  XXXIV. 

Bastardy.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909),  Chapter  17, 
Sections  1,  3,  8 and  9. 

Section  1.  Complaint  by  Mother.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People 
of  the  State  of  Ilinois,  represented  in  the  General  Assembly,  That 
when  an  unmarried  woman  who  shall  be  pregnant,  or  delivered  of  a 
child  which  by  law  would  be  deemed  a bastard,  shall  make  complaint 
to  a justice  of  the  peace  or  judge  of  a municipal  court  in  the  county 
where  she  may  be  so  pregnant  or  delivered,  or  the  person  accused  may 
be  found  and  shall  accuse,  under  oath  or  affirmation,  a person  with 
being  the  father  of  such  child,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  justice  or 
judge  to  issue  a warrant  against  the  person  so  accused  and  cause  him 
to  be  brought  forthwith  before  him,  or  in  his  absence,  any  other  justice 
of  the  peace  or  judge  in  such  county.  (As  amended  by  act  approved 
and  in  force  February  11,  1907.  L.  1907,  p.  56.) 

Section  3.  Examination — Bail.  Upon  his  appearance  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  said  justice  or  judge  to  examine  the  woman,  upon  oath 
or  affirmation,  in  the  presence  of  the  man  alleged  to  be  the  father  of 
the  child,  touching  the  charge  against  him.  The  defendant  shall  have 
the  right  to  controvert  such  charge,  and  evidence  may  be  heard  as  in 
cases  of  trial  before  the  county  court.  If  the  justice  or  judge  shall  be 
of  the  opinion  that  sufficient  cause  appears,  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  bind 
the  person  so  accused  in  bond,  with  sufficient  security,  to  appear  at  the 
next  county  court  to  be  holden  in  such  county,  to  answer  such  charge, 
to  which  court  said  warrant  and  bond  shall  be  returned,  except  that  in 
the  county  of  Cook,  where  said  warrant  and  bond  shall  be  returned  to 
the  criminal  court  of  Cook  county.  On  neglect  or  refusal  to  give  bond 
and  security,  the  justice  or  judge  shall  cause  such  person  to  be  com- 
mitted to  the  jail  of  the  county,  there  to  be  held  to  answer  the  com- 
plaint. (As  amended  by  act  approved  and  in  force  February  11, 
1907.  L 1907,  p.  56.) 

Section  8.  When  Judgment  Is  Against  Defendant.  In  case 
the  issue  be  found  against  the  defendant  or  reputed  father,  or  when- 
ever he  shall,  in  open  court,  have  confessed  the  truth  of  the  accusation 
against  him,  he  shall  be  condemned  by  the  order  and  judgment  of  the 
court  to  pay  a sum  oT  money  not  exceeding  one  hundred  dollars  for 
the  first  year  after  the  birth  of  such  child,  and  a sum  not  exceeding 
fifty  dollars  yearly,  for  nine  years  succeeding  said  first  year,  for  the 
support,  maintenance  and  education  of  such  child,  and  shall,  moreover, 
be  adjudged  to  pay  all  the  costs  of  the  prosecution,  for  which  costs 
execution  shall  issue  as  in  other  cases.  And  the  said  reputed  father 
shall  be  required  by  said  court  to  give  bond  with  sufficient  security, 
to  be  approved  by  the  judge  of  said  court,  for  the  payment  of  such 
sum  of  money  as  shall  be  ordered  by  said  court,  as  aforesaid;  which 


348 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


said  bond  shall  be  made  payable  to  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
and  conditioned  for  the  due  and  faithful  payment  of  said  yearly  sum, 
in  equal  quarterly  installments,  to  the  clerk  of  said  court,  which  bond 
shall  be  filed  and  preserved  by  the  clerk  of  said  court. 

Section  9.  Refusal  to  Give  Security — Commitment — Dis- 
charge. In  case  the  defendant  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  give  such 
security  as  may  be  ordered  by  the  court,  he  shall  be  committed  to  the 
jail  of  the  county,  there  to  remain  until  he  shall  comply  with  such  or- 
der, or  until  otherwise  discharged  by  due  course  of  law.  Any  person 
so  committed  shall  be  discharged  for  insolvency  or  inability  to  give 
bond : Provided,  such  discharge  shall  not  be  made  within  six  months 
after  such  commitment.  (As  amended  by  act  approved  June  4,  1889. 
In  force  July  1,  1899.) 


APPENDIX  XXXV. 

Infamous  Crimes  Against  Nature.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of 
Illinois  (1909),  Sections  47,  279,  Chapter  38  (Criminal  Code). 

Section  279.  Infamous  Crimes.  Every  person  convicted  of  the 
crime  of  murder,  rape,  kidnaping,  wilful  and  corrupt  perjury  or  sub- 
ornation of  perjury,  arson,  burglary,  robbery,  sodomy,  or  other 
crime  against  nature,  incest,  larceny,  forgery,  counterfeiting  or  big- 
amy, shall  be  deemed  infamous,  and  shall  forever  thereafter  be  ren- 
dered incapable  of  holding  any  office  of  honor,  trust  or  profit,  or 
voting  at  any  election,  or  serving  as  a juror,  unless  he  is  again  restored 
to  such  rights  by  the  terms  of  a pardon  for  the  offense,  or  otherwise, 
according  to  the  law:  Provided,  however,  that  the  foregoing  shall  not 
apply  to  any  person  who  has  been  heretofore  convicted  and  sentenced, 
or  who  may  be  hereafter  convicted  and  sentenced  to  the  Illinois  State 
Reformatory  at  Pontiac.  (As  amended  by  Act  approved  April  21, 
1899,  in  force  July  1,  1899,  L.  1899  (p.  141 ; Legal  News  Ed.  p.  120.) 
See  “Penitentiary,”  ch.  108,  sec.  49,  R.  S.  1^5,  p.  182,  sec.  174. 

Section  47.  Punishment.  The  infamous  crime  against  nature, 
either  with  man  or  beast,  shall  subject  the  offender  to  be  punished  by 
imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary  for  a term  not  more  than  ten  years. 

Section  48.  Emission.  It  shall  not  be  necessary  to  prove  emis- 
sion, to  convict  any  per^son  of  the  crime  against  nature. 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


349 


APPENDIX  XXXVI. 

Abduction.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  111.  (1909),  Chapter  38, 
Sections  1 and  2. 

Section  1.  Of  Female.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General  Assembly:  Whoever  entices  or 
takes  away  any  unmarried  female  of  a chaste  life  and  conversation 
from  the  parents’  house  or  wherever  she  may  be  found,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  prostitution  or  concubinage,  and  whoever  aids  and  assists  in 
such  abduction  for  such  purpose,  shall  be  imprisoned  in  the  peniten- 
tiary not  less  than  one  nor  more  than  ten  years. 

Section  2.  Of  Child.  Whoever  unlawfully  takes  or  decoys  away 
any  child  under  the  age  of  twelve  years,  with  intent  to  detain  or 
conceal  such  child  from  its  parents,  guardian  or  other  person  having 
the  lawful  charge  of  such  child,  shall  be  confined  in  the  county  jail 
not  exceeding  one  year,  or  fined  not  exceeding  $2,000,  or  both,  in  the 
discretion  of  the  court : Provided,  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  any 
one  who,  in  good  faith,  interferes  to  protect  the  child  from  abuse  or 
cruel  treatment. 


APPENDIX  XXXVII. 

Penalty  for  Crimes  Against  Children.  Hurd’s  Revised  Stat- 
utes of  111.  (1909),  Chapter  38,  Section  42ha. 

Section  42ha.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
represented  in  the  General  Assembly:  That  any  person  of  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  and  upwards  who  shall  take,  or  attempt  to  take,  any 
immoral,  improper  or  indecent  liberties  with  any  child  of  either  sex, 
under  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  with  the  intent  of  arousing,  appealing 
to  or  gratifying  the  lust  or  passions  or  sexual  desires,  either  of  such 
person  or  of  such  child,  or  of  both  such  person  and  such  child,  or  who 
shall  commit,  or  attempt  to  commit,  any  lewd  or  lascivious  act  upon  or 
with  the  body,  or  any  part  or  member  thereof,  of  such  child,  with  the 
intent  of  arousing,  appealing  to  or  gratifying  the  lust  or  passions  or 
sexual  desires,  either  of  such  person  or  of  such  child,  or  of  both  such 
person  and  such  child,  or  any  person  who  shall  take  any  such 
child  or  shall  entice,  allure  or  persuade  any  such  child,  to  any  place 
whatever  for  the  purpose  (1)  either  of  taking  any  such  immoral,  im- 
proper or  indecent  liberties  with  such  child,  with  such  intent,  or  of 
committing  any  such  lewd,  or  lascivious  act  upon  or  with  the  body, 
or  any  part  or  member  thereof,  of  such  child  with  said  intent,  shall 
be  imprisoned  in  the  penitentiary  not  less  than  one  year  nor  more  than 
twenty  years : Provided,  that  this  act  shall  not  apply  to  offenses  con- 
stituting the  crime  of  sodomy  or  other  infamous  crimes  against  nature, 
incest,  rape  or  seduction.  (1) 


350 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


APPENDIX  XXXVIII. 

Treatment  and  Control  of  Dependent,  Neglected  and  De- 
linquent Children.  Hurd’s  Revised  Statutes  of  Illinois  (1909), 
Chapter  23,  Sections  169,  170  and  171,  175,  176,  177,  177a,  177b,  180, 
183. 

Section  169.  Definition.  That  all  persons  under  the  age  of 
twenty-one  (21)  years,  shall,  for  the  purpose  of  this  act  only,  be  con- 
sidered wards  of  this  State  and  their  persons  shall  be  subject  to  the 
care,  guardianship  and  control  of  the  court  as  hereinafter  provided. 

For  the  purpose  of  this  act,  the  words  “dependent  child”  and  “neg- 
lected child”  shall  mean  any  male  child  who  while  under  the  age  of 
seventeen  years  or  any  female  child  who  while  under  the  age  of  eight- 
een years,  for  any  reason,  is  destitute,  homeless  or  abandoned ; or  de- 
pendent upon  the  public  for  support ; or  has  not  proper  parental  care 
or  guardianship ; or  habitually  begs  or  receives  alms ; or  is  found  living 
in  any  house  of  ill-fame  or  with  any  vicious  or  disreputable  person ; or 
has  a home  which  by  reason  of  neglect,  cruelty  or  depravity  on  the  part 
of  its  parents,  guardian  or  any  other  person  in  whose  care  it  may  be, 
is  an  unfit  place  for  such  child ; and  any  child  who  while  under  the 
age  of  ten  (10)  years  is  found  begging,  peddling  or  selling  any  articles 
or  singing  or  playing  any  musical  instrument  for  gain  upon  the  street 
or  giving  any  public  entertainments  or  accompanies  or  is  used  in  aid  of 
any  person  so  doing. 

The  words  “delinquent  child”  shall  mean  any  male  child  who  while 
under  the  age  of  seventeen  years  or  any  female  child  who  while  under 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  violates  any  law  of  this  State;  or  is  incor- 
rigible, or  knowingly  associates  with  thieves,  vicious  or  immoral  per- 
sons ; or  without  just  cause  and  without  that  (the)  consent  of  its 
parents,  guardian  or  custodian  absents  itself  from  its  home  or  place 
of  abode,  or  is  growing  up  in  idleness  or  crime;  or  knowingN  fre- 
quents a house  of  ill-repute ; or  knowingly  frequents  any  policy  shop 
or  place  where  any  gaming  device  is  operated;  or  frequents  any  sa- 
loon or  dram  shop  where  intoxicating  liquors  are  sold ; or  patronizes 
or  visits  any  public  pool  room  or  bucket  shop ; or  wanders  about  the 
streets  in  the  night  time  without  being  on  any  lawful  business  or  law- 
ful occupation ; or  habitually  wanders  about  any  railroad  yards  or 
tracks  or  jumps  or  attempts  to  jump  onto  (any)  moving  train;  or  en- 
ters any  car  or  engine  without  lawful  authority ; or  uses  vile,  obscene, 
vulgar,  profane  or  indecent  language  in  (any)  public  place  or  about 
any  school  house ; or  is  guilty  of  indecent  or  lascivious  conduct ; any 
child  committing  any  of  these  acts  herein  mentioned  shall  be  deemed 
a delinquent  child  and  shall  be  cared  for  as  such  in  the  manner  here- 
inafter provided. 

A disposition  of  any  child  under  this  act  or  any  evidence  given  in 
such  cause,  shall  not,  in  any  civil,  criminal  or  other  cause  or  proceed- 
ing whatever  in  any  court,  be  lawful  or  proper  evidence  against  such 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


351 


child  for  any  purpose  whatever,  except  in  subsequent  case  (cases) 
against  the  same  child  under  this  act.  The  word  “child”  or  “children” 
may  be  held  to  mean  one  or  more  children,  and  the  word  parent  or 
parents  may  be  held  to  mean  one  or  both  parents,  when  consistent  with 
the  intent  of  this  act.  The  word  “association”  shall  include  any  asso- 
ciation, institution  or  corporation  which  include  in  their  purposes  the 
care  or  disposition  of  children  coming  within  the  meaning  of  this  act. 

Section  170.  Jurisdiction.  The  circuit  and  county  courts  of  the 
several  counties  in  this  State,  shall  have  original  jurisdiction  in  all 
cases  coming  within  the  terms  of  this  act.  In  all  trials  under  this  act 
any  person  interested  therein  may  demand  a jury  of  six  or  the  judge 
of  his  own  motion  may  order  a jury  of  the  same  number  to  try  the 
case. 

Section  171.  Juvenile  Court.  In  counties  having  over  500,000 
population,  the  judges  of  the  circuit  court  shall  at  such  times  as  they 
shall  determine,  designate  one  or  more  of  their  number,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  hear  all  cases  coming  under  this  act.  A special  court 
room,  to  be  designated  as  the  juvenile  court  room,  shall  be  provided 
for  the  hearing  of  such  cases,  and  the  findings  of  the  court  shall  be 
entered  in  a book  or  books  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose,  and  known 
as  the  “Juvenile  Record,”  and  the  court  may  for  convenience  be  called 
the  “Juvenile  Court.” 

Section  175.  Dependent  and  Neglected  Children.  If  the  court 
shall  find  any  male  child  under  the  age  of  seventeen  years  (17)  or 
any  female  child  under  the  age  of  eighteen  (18)  years  to  be  depend- 
ent or  neglected  within  the  meaning  of  this  act,  the  court  may  allow 
such  child  to  remain  at  its  own  home  subject  to  the  friendly  visita- 
tion of  a probation  officer.  And  if  the  parent,  parents,  guardian  or 
custodian  consent  thereto,  or  if  the  court  shall  further  find  that  the 
parent,  parents,  guardian  or  custodian  of  such  child  are  unfit  or  im- 
proper guardians  or  unable  or  unwilling  to  care  for,  protect,  train, 
educate  (or)  discipline  such  child  and  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of 
such  child  and  of  the  people  of  this  State  that  such  child  be  taken 
from  the  custody  of  its  parents,  custodian  or  guardian,  the  court  may 
make  an  order  appointing  as  guardian  of  the  person  of  such  child 
some  reputable  citizen  of  good  moral  character  and  order  such  guar- 
dian to  place  such  child  in  some  suitable  family  home  or  other  suit- 
able place,  which  such  guardian  may  provide  for  such  child,  or  the 
court  may  enter  an  order  committing  such  child  to  some  suitable 
State  institution,  organized  for  the  care  of  dependent  or  neglected 
children,  or  to  some  training  school  or  industrial  school  or  to  some 
association  embracing  in  its  objects  the  purpose  of  caring  for  or  ob- 
taining homes  for  neglected  or  dependent  children,  which  association 
shall  have  been  accredited  as  hereinafter  provided.  (As  amended  by 
act  approved  June  4,  1907.  In  force  July  1,  1907.) 

Section  176.  Guardianship.  In  every  case  where  such  child 
is  committed  to  an  institution  or  association,  the  court  shall  appoint 
the  president,  secretary  or  superintendent  of  such  institution  or  asso- 


352 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


ciation,  guardian  over  the  person  of  such  child  and  shall  order  such 
guardian  to  place  such  child  in  such  institution  or  with  such  associa- 
tion, whereof  he  is  such  officer  and  to  hold  such  child,  care  for,  train 
and  educate  it  subject  to  the  rules  and  laws  that  may  be  in  force  from 
time  to  time  governing  such  institution  or  association. 

Section  177.  Disposition  of  Delinquent  Children.  If  the 
court  shall  find  any  male  child  under  the  age  of  seventeen  years  or 
any  female  child  under  the  age  of  eighteen  years  to  be  delinquent 
.within  the  meaning  of  this  act,  the  court  may  allow  such  child  to 
remain  at  its  own  home  subject  to  the  friendly  visitation  of  (a)  pro- 
bation officer,  such  child  to  report  to  the  probation  officer  as  often 
as  may  be  required,  and  if  the  parents,  parent,  guardian  or  custo- 
dian consent  thereto,  or  if  the  court  shall  further  find  either  that  the 
parent,  parents,  guardian  or  custodian  are  unfit  or  improper  guar- 
dians, or  are  unable  or  unwilling  to  care  for,  protect,  train,  educate  or 
discipline  such  child  and  shall  further  find  that  it  is  for  the  interest 
of  such  child  and  of  the  people  of  this  State  that  such  child  be  taken 
from  the  custody  of  its  parents,  parent,  custodian  or  guardian,  the 
court  may  appoint  some  proper  person*  or  probation  officer,  guardian 
over  the  person  of  such  child  and  permit  it  to  remain  at  its  home, 
or  order  such  guardian  to  cause  such  child  to  be  placed  in  a suitable 
family  home,  or  cause  it  to  be  boarded  out  in  some  suitable  family 
home,  in  case  provision  is  made  by  voluntary  contribution  or  other- 
wise for  the  payment  of  the  board ; or  the  court  may  commit  such 
child  to  some  training  school  for  boys  if  a male  child  or  to  an  indus- 
trial school  for  girls  if  a female  child  or  to  any  institution  incor- 
porated under  the  laws  of  this  State  to  care  for  delinquent  children, 
or  to  any  institution  that  has  been  or  may  be  pro^*ided  by  the  State, 
county,  city,  town  or  village  suitable  for  the  care  of  delinquent  chil- 
dren, including  St.  Charles  School  for  Boys  and  State  Training 
School  for  Girls,  or  to  some  association  that  will  receive  it,  embrac- 
ing in  its  objects  the  care  of  neglected,  dependent  or  delinquent  chil- 
dren and  which  has  been  duly  accredited  as  hereinafter  provided. 
In  every  case  where  such  child  is  committed  to  an  institution  or  asso- 
ciation, the  court  shall  appoint  the  president,  secretary'  or  superintend- 
ent of  such  institution  or  association,  guardian  over  the  person  of 
such  child  and  shall  order  such  guardian  to  place  such  child  in  such 
institution  or  with  such  association,  whereof  he  is  such  officer  and  to 
hold  such  child,  care  for,  train  and  educate  it  subject  to  the  rules 
and  laws  that  may  be  in  force,  from  time  to  time  governing  such  in- 
stitution or  association. 

Section  177a.  Process  Against  Delinquent  Child.  The  court 
may  in  its  discretion  in  any  case  of  a delinquent  child  permit  such 
child  to  be  proceeded  against  in  accordance  with  the  laws  that  may 
be  in  force  in  this  State  governing  the  commission  of  crimes  or 
violation  of  city,  village,  or  town  ordinance.  In  such  case  the  petition 
filed  under  this  act  shall  be  dismissed. 

Section  177b.  Placing  in  Public  Hospital,  Etc.  The  court 


LAWS  AND  ORDINANCES 


353 


may,  when  the  health  or  condition  of  any  child  found  to  be  dependent, 
neglected  or  delinquent  requires  it,  order  the  guardian  to  cause  such 
child  to  be  placed  in  a public  hospital  or  institution  for  treatment  or 
special  care,  or  in  a private  hospital  or  institution  which  will  receive 
it  for  the  purposes,  without  charge  to  the  public  authorities. 

Section  180.  Agents  of  Juvenile  Reformatories.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Superintendent  of  the  State  Reformatory  at  Pon- 
tiac and  the  board  of  managers  of  the  State  Home  for  Juvenile  Fe- 
male Offenders  at  Geneva,  and  the  board  of  managers  of  any  other 
institution  to  which  juvenile  delinquents  may  be  committed  by  the 
courts,  to  maintain  an  agent  of  such  institution,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  examine  the  homes  of  children  paroled  from  such  institution,  for 
the  purpose  of  ascertaining  and  reporting  to  said  court  whether  they 
are  suitable  homes;  to  assist  children  paroled  or  discharged  from 
such  institution  in  finding  suitable  employment,  and  to  maintain  a 
friendly  supervision  over  paroled  inmates  during  the  continuance  of 
their  parole;  such  agents  shall  hold  office  subject  to  the  pleasure  of 
the  board  making  the  appointment,  and  shall  receive  such  compensa- 
tion as  such  board  may  determine  out  of  any  funds  appropriated  for 
such  institution  applicable  thereto. 

Section  183.  Adoption  of  Child.  Whenever  the  petition  filed, 
as  is  provided  in  section  3 hereof,  or  a supplemental  petition  filed  at 
any  time  after  the  appointment  of  the  guardian  shall  pray  that  the 
guardian  to  be  appointed  shall  be  authorized  to  consent  to  the  legal 
adoption  of  the  child,  and  the  court  upon  the  hearing  shall  find  that 
it  is  the  best  interest  of  such  child  that  the  guardian  be  given  such 
authority,  the  court  may,  in  its  order  appointing  such  guardian,  em- 
power him  to  appear  in  court  where  any  proceedings  for  the  adop- 
tion of  such  child  may  be  pending,  and  to  consent  to  such  adoption ; 
and  such  consent  shall  be  sufficient  to  authorize  the  court  where  the 
adoption  proceedings  are  pending  to  enter  a proper  order  or  decree 
of  adoption  without  further  notice  to,  or  consent  by  the  parents  or 
relatives  of  such  child : Provided,  however,  That  before  entering 
such  order  the  court  shall  find  from  the  evidence  that  ( 1 ) the  parents 
or  surviving  parent  of  a legitimate  child  or  the  mother  of  an  illegiti- 
mate child,  or  if  the  child  has  no  parents  living  the  guardian  of  the 
child,  if  any,  or  if  there  is  no  parent  living  and  the  child  has  no  guar- 
dian or  the  guardian  is  not  known  to  the  petitioner,  then  a near  rel- 
ative of  the  child,  if  any  there  be,  consents  to  such  order;  or  (2)  that 
one  parent  consents  and  the  other  is  unfit  for  any  of  the  reasons  here- 
inafter specified  to  have  the  child  or  that  both  parents  are  or  that 
the  surviving  parent  or  the  mother  of  an  illegitimate  child  is  so  unfit 
for  any  of  such  reasons — the  grounds  of  unfitness  being  (a)  deprav- 
ity, (b)  open  and  notorious  adultery  or  fornication,  (c)  habitual 
drunkenness  for  the  space  of  one  year  prior  to  the  filing  of  the  peti- 
tion, (d)  extreme  and  repeated  cruelty  to  the  child,  (e)  abandon- 
ment of  the  child  or  (f)  desertion  of  the  child  for  more  than  six  (6) 
months  next  preceding  the  filing  of  the  petition. 


Appendices 


Tables 


Table  showing  conditions  in  seven  Police  Precincts  of  the  Precincts  of  Chicago  according  to  the  List 
received  by  the  Commission  from  the  General  Superintendent  of  Police,  October  26,  1910. 


TABLES 


No.  of 

Inmates. 

lO 

r-  CO 

»o  »o 

»0  ti. 

1— c 

419 

No.  of 

Keep- 

ers 

CO  o 

»0  lie  00 
»0  CO 

252 

No.  of 
Separate 
Adresses. 

a>  CO 
r-t  ci 

r-  -11 00 

lie  CO  <N 

to 

No.  of 
Rooms 
in 

Flats. 

229 

1-1  lO  lO 

CO  CO  CO 

CO  Ol  1-1 

096 

No.  of 

Flats 

1- 

C 

— H 

O Tte  CO 
lO  CO  CO 

272 

No.  of 
Keepers. 

CO  ii  rl* 

00 

apH 

(N 

• 04  «0 

Oi 

No.  of 
Rooms 
in 

Hotels. 

1,061 

25 

16 

1,222 

No.  of 
Hotels. 

ic 

CO  CO  Oi 

04 

ne 

No,  of 
Inmates. 

1 

j 

CO  00  »0  O O .CO 
r-  <N  00  . oi 

CO  1-H  i-H  . 

1,012 

No.  of 

Keep- 

ers. 

CO  r-  CO  lo  00  ’•  o 

O CO  • 1-1 

189 

No.  of 
Rooms 
in 

Houses. 

162 

1,366 

CO  >0  ! r- 

CO  ^ ; S 

2,343 

No.  of 
Houses. 

oi  CO  in  GO  . o 

O ca  CO  . ^ 

/• 

192 

1 

No.  of 
Ad- 
dresses. 

TfOOCOiOOOt^t'- 
(N  oi  ea  00  co'us 

^1 

385 

Pre- 

cinct. 

N CO  n*  »o  r-i  00  00 

1-H  (N  <N  CO 

Totals 

Divi- 

sion 

1-1  1^  1-1  OI  CO  t> 

Total  number  of  inmates  in  the  seven  precincts 1,431 

Total  number  of  female  keepers 449 


358 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


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Total  investigated 164  Total  investigated 

Final  totals 164 


TABLE  III 

Table  showing  conditions  with  regard  to  Houses,  Hotels  and  Assignation  Houses,  investigated  by  the 
Commission  during  July,  August,  September  and  October,  1910. 


TABLES  359 


Character  of  the  Place  where  In- 
vestigator was  solicited  to  go. 

. a 

0 

1 

57 

Hotel. 

1-H 

House.-i, 

99 

No.  of  places 
where  Invest- 
igator was 
not  solicited. 

o 

No.  of  times 
Investigator 
solicited  in 
connection 
with  these 
places. 

CO 

No.  of  Pros- 
titutes seen 
in  connection 
with  these 
places. 

386 

Addresses  not 
on  Police 
List. 

CO 

Addresses  on 
Police  List. 

00 

Number 
Houses, 
Hotels  and 
Assignation 
Houses. 

Total,  164 

360 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


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and  twenty-six  (26)  are  doubtful. 


Table  showing  conditions  with  regard  to  Houses,  Hotels,  Assignation  Houses  and  Saloons  investigated 
by  the  Commission  during  July,  August,  September  and  October,  1910. 


361 


TABLES 


Character  of  place  where  Investi- 
gator was  solicited  to  go. 

Flats  and 

Assignation 

Rooms. 

r-co 

»o 

pH 

200 

Hotel. 

41 

70 

111 

House. 

66 

23 

89 

of  places 
where  In- 
vestigator 
was  not 
solicited. 

1* 

209 

No.  of  places 

where  In- 
vestigator 
was  solic- 
ited. 

164 

236 

S 

No.  of 
Prostitutes 
in  these 
places. 

«5  00 
00  (N 
CO  OS 

CO 

Address 
not  on 
Police  List. 

116 

39S 

514 

Address  on 
Police  List. 

00  r- 

lO 

OS 

Number. 

164 

445 

I 

Houses,  etc. . 
Saloons 

Totals 

Appendices 


Exhibits 


EXHIBITS 


365 


,7: 


EXHIBIT  A. 

' Newsboy  found  selling  papers  in  Restricted  District  after  12:  00  P.  M. 
(Zl)  John , Age  14. 


EXHIBITS 


367 


EXHIBIT  B. 

Newsboy  found  selling  papers  in  Restricted  District  after  12 : 00  P.  M. 

(Z2)  George , Age  11. 

Reported  to  Juvenile  Court  and  rescued  by  Probation  Officer. 


EXHIBITS 


369 


EXHIBIT  C. 

Newsboys  found  selling  papers  in  Restricted  District  after  12:  00  P.  M. 

(Z3)  Fred , Age  15. 

(Z4)  Sam , Age  16. 


EXHIBITS 


371 


EXHIBIT  D. 

(Z5)  Photograph  of , 15  years  old. 

Alessenger  N^o.  , 

(Name  and  number  in  possession  of  the  Commission.) 


EXHIBITS 


373 


EXHIBIT  E. 

(Z6)  Messenger  Boy  found  working  in  the  Restricted  District. 

Photograph  of , 17  years  old. 

(Name  and  number  in  possession  of  the  Commission.) 


1 


EXHIBITS 


375 


EXHIBIT  F. 


(Z7j  Photograph  of 
Messenger  No.  — 


— , 16  years  old. 

in  Restricted  District. 


(Name  and  number  in  possession  of  the  Commission.) 


EXHIBITS 


377 


EXHIBIT  G. 


(Z8)  Photograph  of 


Messenger  No. 


in 


Restricted  District. 


s'ij  . ;■  V 


fc^,.. 

I 


' '".u.  v", 

r • ■;• 

5j--.  •■;. 

fT-:--,. . ■,■  ■ 


, ' ■V.'  • - . *•■*>. 

'fly"" -Vi*??#  ' 


ir'y  ■':< 


^:.  'J?;  » 

.'•  ' .-v 

-^V‘..>;V'' 

' ■'  ■ ■ . ■ ■■  XV'  X . ■ .: 

i.if  • ■-  - . ■•:  ^■'''  J.*-;-  •^.•■;5’rs'-’''; 


m.  t;  ' 

iit#V'' 


! 


r 


EXHIBITS 


379 


EXHIBITS 


381 


EXHIBIT  I. 


Copy  of  card  used  by  physician  who  examines  inmates  of  houses 
of  prostitution. 


Chicago,  111., 19,.. 

This  is  to  certify  that  I have  examined  this  day,  M 

, and  found  free 

from  infectious  and  contagious  diseases. 


Office. 


M.  D. 


382 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


EXHIBIT  J. 


Copy  of  actual  letter  from  man  whom  we  will  call  “C,”  instruct- 
ing agent,  whom  we  will  call  “A”  to  continue  transaction  with 
procurer,  whom  we  will  call  “B”  for  the  purchase  of  women. 

HOTEL  

BROADWAY  AND STREET, 

NEW  YORK. 


October  17,  1910. 


Mr.  “A”., 

Gen  Del.,  Chicago. 

Dear ; 

I am  busy  on  a deal  here  and  probably  will  have  to  stay  here  for  a 
cupple  weeks  yet.  I wish  you  would  see  that  friend  of  yours,  the 
one  that  you  spoke  about  to  me  and  get  from  him  how  much  it  will 
cost  to  get  what  I want  over  there,  send  me  the  prices,  etc.,  and  if  I 
cannot  do  any  better  here  I will  ask  you  to  handle  the  deal  you  know 
what  I want  and  if  as  you  say  your  friend  has  been  in  business  all 
over  the  country  he  also  will  know  what  to  look  for.  If  I can  get  them 
in  Chicago  it  will  save  me  a cupple  of  hundred  in  fares  alone.  Do 
that  as  soon  as  you  can  as  I don’t  want  to  waste  to  much  time  in  going 
back  to  Shanghai.  WTite  as  soon  as  you  can. 

Your  friend. 


“C 


J5 


EXHIBIT  K. 

Copy  of  a telegram  supposed  to  have  been  received  from  “C”  ir» 
New  York  to  “A”  in  Chicago,  instructing  him  to  get  women  through 
“B”  for  his  house  in  China. 

THE  WESTERN  UNION  TELEGRAPH  CO. 

RECEIVED  AT  Station., 

9 gy  h i8  paid. 

New  York. 

“A” 

House, 

Chicago. 

You  know  what  I want.  See  your  friend,  get  prices  and  number  I 
can  get.  Will  forward  money  to  the  Company  of  Illinois. 


EXHIBITS 


383 


EXHIBIT  L. 

Copy  of  letter  sent  to  Hotel  , New  York,  to  “C”  who 

wanted  to  secure  women  for  his  house  in  Shanghai. 

Hotel. 

Chicago. 

Mr.  “C” 

Hotel 

New  York  City. 

Dear  Sir: 

I have  spoken  to  my  friend,  he  believes  he  can  get  you  two,  maybe 
more.  The  price  will  be  for  expenses,  spending  money,  etc.  $50.00  for 
each.  Send  what  you  want  according  to  how  many  you  want  I cer- 
tainly will  not  spend  more  than  will  be  necessary. 

Answer  at  once. 

Yours  truly, 

“A” 


EXHIBIT  M. 

Copy  of  letter  from  New  York  from  “C,”  giving  Instructions  to 
“A”  about  the  payment  of  money  to  “B”  for  three  women. 

HOTEL  

BROADWAY  AND STREET. 

^ NEW  YORK. 

Mr.  “A,”  ^ 

Gen.  Del.,  Chicago. 

Dear  Sir: 

Have  received  your  letter,  go  ahead  and  let  your  friend  get  the 
two  you  write  about  and  let  me  know  as  soon  as  possible  how  many 

more  he  can  get.  I have  sent  $150.00  to  your  account  to  the 

Co.,  that  will  be  enough  at  present,  when  you  need  more 

telegraph. 

Answer  as  soon  as  possible  and  keep  me  posted  as  to  progress  as 
I am  anxious  to  return  to  China  as  soon  as  possible. 

Yours  truly, 

“C” 

P.  S. — Tell  your  friend  that  if  he  will  do  his  best  and  get  me  what 
I want,  I will  not  only  pay  him,  but  will  make  him  a nifty  present 
as  well. 


384 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


EXHIBIT  N. 

A Bill  for  an  Act  Entitled  An  Act  to  Prevent  the  Transmission  of 
Venereal  Diseases. 

House  Bill  357.  Introduced  by  Hon.  R.  K.  Bedgood. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State 
of  Indiana, 

That  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  County  Clerks  to  issue  a license  to 
marry  to  any  male  who  fails  to  present  a medical  certificate  showing 
him  to  be  free  from  all  venereal  diseases ; said  certificate  to  be  sworn 
to  by  a licensed  physician  and  to  be  filed  with  the  usual  application  for 
license  to  marry. 

Section  2.  The  certificate  required  in  Section  1,  shall  read  as 
follows,  to-wit: 

I,  , M.  D.,  being  a licensed  physician 

in  the  State  of  Indiana,  do  hereby  certify  that  I have  carefully  and 
thoroughly  examined , having  applied  the  rec- 

ognized clinical  and  laboratory  tests  of  scientific  medicine  and  find  him 
to  be  free  from  all  symptoms  and  taint  of  any  venereal  disease. 


(Here  follows  affidavit  of  examining  physician.) 

Section  3.  If  persons  resident  of  this  State,  with  intent  to  evade 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  go  into  another  State  and  there  have  their 
marriage  solemnized  with  the  intention  of  afterward  returning  and 
residing  in  this  State,  and  do  so  return  and  reside  in  this  State,  such 
marriage  shall  be  null  and  void  and  such  parties,  upon  returning  to  this 
State,  shall  be  subject  to  all  the  penalties  provided  for  in  this  act. 

Section  4.  Violation  of  this  act  shall  be  punished  by  a fine  of  one 
hundred  dollars. 

Section  5.  All  acts  or  parts  of  acts  in  conflict  with  this  act  are 
repealed. 


EXHIBITS 


385 


EXHIBIT  O. 

AN  ACT  TO  AMEND  THE  CHARTER  OF  THE  CITY  OF  NEW  YORK,  IN  RELA- 
TION TO  REGULATING  AND  LICENSING  PUBLIC  DANCE  HALLS. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows: 

Section  1.  The  Greater  New  York  Charter,  as  re-enacted  by 
chapter  four  hundred  and  sixty-six  of  the  laws  of  nineteen  hundred 
and  one,  is  hereby  amended  by  adding  after  Section  fourteen  hundred 
and  eighty-seven,  seven  new  sectio^ns,  to  be  sections  fourteen  hundred 
and  eighty-eight,  fourteen  hundred  and  eighty-nine,  fourteen  hundred 
and  ninety,  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-one,  fourteen  hundred  and 
ninety-two,  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-three,  and  fourteen  hundred 
and  ninety-four  thereof,  to  read,  respectively,  as  follows: 

Section  1488.  The  words  “public  dance  hall”  when  used  in  this 
title  shall  be  taken  to  mean: 

Any  room,  place  or  space  in  the  City  of  New  York  in  which  danc- 
ing is  carried  on  and  to  which  admission  can  be  had  by  payment  of  a 
fee,  or  by  the  purchase,  possession  or  presentation  of  a ticket  or  token, 
or  in  which  a charge  is  made  for  caring  for  clothing  or  other  property, 
other  than  a hotel  having  upwards  of  fifty  bedrooms,  or 

Any  room,  place  or  space  in  the  City  of  New  York,  located  upon 
premises  which  are  licensed  to  sell  liquors,  other  than  a hotel  hav- 
ing upwards  of  fifty  bedrooms,  in  wiiich  dancing  is  carried  on  and  to 
which  the  public  may  gain  admission,  either  with  or  without  payment 
of  fee. 

The  word  “Dancing”  as  used  in  this  and  the  succeeding  sections 
shall  not  apply  to  exhibitions  or  performances  in  which  the  persons 
paying  for  admission  do  not  participate. 

PUBLIC  DANCE  HALL  DANCING  ACADEMY  FORBIDDEN  WITHOUT  LICENSE. 

Section  1489.  No  public  dance  hall  shall  be  conducted  nor  shall 
dancing  be  taught  or  permitted  in  any  public  dance  hall  unless  it  shall 
be  licensed  pursuant  to  this  act  and  the  license  be  in  force  and  not 
suspended.  Any  person  violating  this  section  shall  be  guilty  of  a 
misdemeanor. 

PUBLIC  DANCE  HALLS — LICENSE  OF — REQUIREMENTS. 

Section  1490.  All  public  dance  halls  shall  be  licensed  by  the 
Mayor  or  other  licensing  authority  of  the  City  of  New  York;  the  fee 
for  each  such  license  shall  be  fifty  dollars  for  each  year  or  fraction 
thereof.  All  licenses  issued  on  or  between  the  first  day  of  April  and 
the  thirtieth  day  of  September  of  any  year  shall  expire  on  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  March  of  the  succeeding  year.  All  licenses  issued  on  or 


386 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


between  the  first  day  of  October  and  the  thirty-first  day  of  March  of 
any  year,  shall  expire  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  September  of  the  suc- 
ceeding year.  No  license  shall  be  issued  unless  the  place  for  which 
it  is  issued  complies  with  all  laws,  ordinances,  rules  and  the  provisions 
of  any  building  code  applicable  thereto  and  is  a safe  and  proper  place 
for  the  purpose  for  which  it  shall  be  used,  properly  ventilated  and 
supplied  with  sufficient  toilet  conveniences.  Every  licensed  public 
dance  hall  shall  post  its  license  at  the  main  entrance  to  its  premises. 

NO  LICENSE  WITHOUT  REPORT  AFTER  INSPECTION. 

Section  1491.  No  license  shall  be  issued  until  the  licensing  au- 
thority of  the  City  of  New  York  shall  have  received  a written  report 
of  an  inspector  that  the  building  or  premises  to  be  licensed  complies 
with  section  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety  of  this  title.  All  inspectors 
shall  be  permitted  to  have  access  to  all  public  dance  halls  at  all  reason- 
able times  and  whenever  they  are  open  for  dancing,  instruction  in 
dancing  or  for  any  other  purpose.  Inspectors  shall  be  required  to  re- 
port all  violations.  All  reports  shall  be  in  writing  and  shall  be  filed 
and  made  public  records. 

PUBLIC  DANCE  HALLS — SALE  OF  LIQUOR  THEREIN. 

Section  1492.  Dancing  shall  not  be  permitted  in  any  place  in  the 
City  of  New  York  licensed  to  sell  liquors,  except  in  a hotel  having 
upwards  of  fifty  bedrooms,  unless  such  place  shall  also  be  licensed 
under  section  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety.  Violation  of  this  provi- 
sion shall  be  deemed  a violation  of  the  liquor  tax  law  with  respect  to 
such  premises.  No  liquors  shall  be  sold,  served,  or  given  away,  in 
any  public  dance  hall  in  which  dancing  is  advertised  to  be  taught,  or 
in  which  classes  in  dancing  are  advertised  to  be  maintained,  or  in 
which  instruction  in  dancing  is  given  for  hire ; or  in  any  room  con- 
nected with  such  hall.  The  word  “liquors”  as  used  in  this  section, 
shall  be  construed  as  defined  in  the  liquor  tax  law  of  this  state. 

The  licensing  authority  shall  immediately  notify  the  state  commis- 
sioner of  Excise  of  the  granting  or  renewal  or  revocation  or  forfeiture 
of  any  license  issued  under  this  title  to  any  place  or  premises  which 
are  licensed  to  sell  liquor. 

license — WHEN  FORFEITED  OR  REVOKED. 

Section  1493.  The  license  of  any  public  dance  hall  may  be  for- 
feited for  habitual  disorderly  or  immoral  conduct  permitted  on  the 
premises  and  shall  be  forfeited  on  conviction  of  any  person  for  viola- 
tion of  section  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-two  of  this  act,  or  upon 
the  conviction  of  any  person  for  violation  of  section  fourteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-four  or  section  eleven  hundred  and  forty-six  of  the 
penal  law  in  or  with  respect  to  the  premises  of  any  public  dance  hall. 


EXHIBITS 


387 


The  license  of  any  public  dance  hall  may  be  revoked  by  the  licensing 
authority  whenever  the  licensed  premises  do  not  comply  with  section 
fourteen  hundred  and  ninety  of  this  act,  provided  that  licensee  or  per- 
son in  charge  shall  be  served  with  a copy  of  the  report  or  complaint. 
In  any  case  where  a license  is  revoked  or  where  the  licensing  authority 
refuses  to  grant  a new  license,  reasons  for  the  action  must  be  stated 
in  writing  and  shall  be  made  public  records.  Should  the  license  of 
any  place  have  been  revoked  twice  within  a period  of  six  m.onths,  no 
new  license  shall  be  granted  to  such  place  for  a period  of  at  least  one 
year  from  date  of  the  second  revocation. 

Section  1494.  The  Mayor  or  licensing  authority  of  the  City  of 
New  York  may  appoint  such  inspectors  and  other  officials  necessary 
to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  sections  fourteen  hundred  and  eighty- 
nine,  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety,  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-one, 
fourteen  hundred  and  ninety-two  and  fourteen  hundred  and  ninety- 
three  as  may  be  authorized  by  the  board  of  estimate  and  apportion- 
ment of  the  city  or  authority  having  the  right  to  appropriate  public 
money.  The  money  paid  for  licenses  under  this  act  shall  be  applied 
toward  the  payment  of  the  salaries  of  the  inspectors  appointed  here- 
under. Any  deficiency  and  any  other  expense  of  carrying  this  act  into 
effect  until  appropriation  can  be  made  therefor,  shall  be  met  by  the 
issue  of  special  revenue  bonds  of  the  city.  The  inspectors  to  be  ap- 
pointed under  this  section  shall  be  designated  as  inspectors  of  public 
dance  halls. 

Section  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 


388 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


EXHIBIT  P. 

Facsimile  of  page  of  an  account  book  used  by  madam  of  a house  in 


giving  credit  to  inmates  for 

services  rendered ; 

Wednesday,  May  8th.  The  totals  are  inserted. 

Sunday,  May  5th. 

Bessie. 

NUMBER  OF  MEN. 

//  

Aline. 

2 

////////////////////  

Alice. 

20 

////////////////  

Vere. 

16 

//////////////////////// 

Kitty. 

24 

Mina. 

////////////////////////////////////  

36 

//////////////////////  •• 

Edith. 

22 

////////////////////  •••• 

Florince. 

20 

1.  This  book  formed  part  of  the  evidence  in 
case,  tried  in  the  Supreme  Court. 

the  Leona  Garrity 

EXHIBITS 


389 


Monday,  May  6th. 


Bessie. 

/ 1 

Aline. 

A T 

m mill II mu  i6 

Kitty. 

//////////////  14 

Mina. 

//////////////////////  22 

Edith. 

///////////////  15 

Florin  CE. 

///////////////////////  23 

Vera. 

///////////////// 17 


390 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Tuesday,  May  7th. 
Bessie. 


Alice. 

///////////  11 

Vera. 

//////////////  14 

Kitty. 

////////////  12 

Mina. 

////////////  12 

Edith. 

///////////////  15 

Florin  ce. 

/////////////////////  21 

Sophy. 

//////////////////  18 


391 


EXHIBITS 

Wednesday,  May  8. 

Bessie. 

Alice. 

///////////////  15 

V ERA. 

////////////////  16 

I Kitty. 

I /////////  9 

I Mina. 

I IIJIIIIIII  10 

[ Edith. 

t mi '•••  4 

I Florince. 

[;  /////////////////////  21 

\ Sophy. 

< /////////////////////  21 


392 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Thursday,  May  9th. 

Bessie. 

///  3 

Kitty. 

/////////////////  17 

Florince. 

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii/miiiiii 45 

Annie. 

//////////////////////  22 

Total,  Florince,  5 nights,  130  men  at  fifty  cents  each  of  which  she 
received  twenty-five  cents  each. 

Average,  per  night,  26  men. 


INDEX 


Page 

Abduction — law  349 

Abolish  Fining  System  46 

Abortion  223 

Mills  277 

Law  341 

Action  of  City  Council  on  Report 10 

Advertisements — cure  of  diseases  221 

Advertising:  methods  of — houses  78 

Advertisements — prohibited — ordinance  344 

Agencies  for  Care  and  Reformation  of  Girls  274 

Amusements:  parks  213,  246 

Ordinance 327 

Army  Statistics  and  Venereal  Disease 300 

Appreciation,  a word  of  29 

Appropriation  for  Commission  S,  9 

Assignation  : houses  34 

Hotels  73 

Typical  cases  75 

Rooms  over  saloons  131 

Attitude  of  Commission  28 

Bar  Permits — ordinance 326 

Bartenders  and  Waiters  in  Disorderly  Saloons  123 

Bastardy — law  347 

Beer:  sale  of,  in  houses 77 

Board  of  Education:  recommendations  to 63 

Boats  for  Prostitution — law  310 

Brewers  and  Saloons  120 

Companies  119 

Busse,  Mayor  Fred  A 29 

Cadet,  the  184 

And  panders  176 

Call  House — flat 81 

Causes  45,  174,  262 

Child  Protection  and  Education  235  - 

Children:  protection  35 

In  saloons  126 

In  vice  districts  237 

Venereal  diseases  among  241 

Underfed  246 

Ordinance  333 

Churches — recommendations  to  64 


394 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


City  Authorities— recommendations  to  59 

City  Council — action  on  report  lo 

Clandestine  Prostitutes  290 

Cocaine:  use  of  by  prostitutes  84 

Law  317 

Ordinance  319 

Colored  Communities — situation  in  38 

Commercialized  Business — prostitution  a 32 

Commission's  Work — scope  of  30 

Committees  of  Commission — study  by  13 

Committee  of  Fifteen  184 

Committees — reports  of  30 

Conditions — ignorance  of  31 

Confectionery  and  Ice  Cream  Parlors  249 

Conferences  before  Commission  9 

Corporation  Counsel — recommendations  to 61 

County  Officials — recommendations  to  58 

Crimes  Against  Children — law  349 

Criticism  by  Commission  28 

Customers — flat  81 

Dance  Halls  185,  210,  266 

In  saloons  126 

And  police  158 

And  prostitutes  171 

Delinquent  Girls  173 

Department  of  Health  and  Houses — law  310 

Department  Stores  198 

Dependent,  Neglected  and  Delinquent  Children — law 350 

Diseases  : in  bouses  76 

Advertisements  221 

Disorderly  Conduct — law  31 1 

Disorderly  House — law  309 

Domestic  Service  268 

Dramshops — law  323 

Drugs  : typical  cases 85 

Itinerant  vendor,  law  342 

Economic  Side  of  Question 42 

Conditions  230 

Education — sex  36 

Educational  Methods  253 

Employment  Agencies  . ..218,  246 

Law  335 

Entertainment  in  Saloons  '. 125 

Enticing  Female  in  House — law  3ii 


INDEX 


395 


Exhibits:  newsboj-s  365,  367, 

Messenger  boys  371,  373,  375,  377, 

Card  used  by  physicia'n  

Regarding  purchase  of  women  382, 


Copy  of  bill  to  prevent  transmission  of  venereal  disease 

Copy  of  act  regarding  dance  halls  

Copy  of  account  book  kept  by  a “ Madame  ” 

Existing  Conditions  in  Chicago  

Exploitation  of  Inmates  

Federal  Authorities  : recommendations  to  

Fining  System  


369 

379 

381 

383 

384 
38s 

388 

69 

77 

55 

46 


Flats  : typical  cases  

A typical  

As  a call  house 

Customers  

Renting  

And  police  

Frequenting  House  of  III  Fame:  law  

Fruit  Stores  and  Ice  Cream  Parlors  : ordinance  . . . 

Grand  Jury:  New  York 

Health  Department:  recommendations  to  

And  venereal  diseases  

Home  Conditions:  bad  

Hospitals  and  Venereal  Disease 

Hotels  : typical  cases  

And  police  

Houses  : typical  cases  

Profits  from  sale  of  liquor  

And  police  

Law  

Ordinances  

Immigrant:  the  

Women  

Protection  of  girls 

Protective  league 

Immoral  Shows  

Literature  and  pictures 

Jndecent  Literature:  immoral  exhibitions,  ordinance 

Industrial  Homes  

Conditions  

Infamous  Crime:  law  

Inheritance  of  Venereal  Disease 

Inmates:  exploitation  of  

In  flats  

Data  regarding  thirty  

Introduction  and  Summary  , 


75 

- . . 79 

81 

81 

81 

151 

311 

334 

231 

63 

.293 

40,  229,  245,  264 
294 

75 

151 

75 

: Ill 

151 

309 

309 

• 40 

227 

. . ; 246 

278 

74.  77 

249 

346 

- 47 

281 

348 

295 

77 

80 

166 

25 


396 


THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 


Juvenile:  court  records  

And  other  delinquents  

Lake  Steamers  

Laws:  not  enforced  

Liquor  Dealers’  Protective  Association  

And  saloon  

Liquor  : sale  of  in  houses,  flats  and  hotels 

Literature  Relating  to  Disease  : ordinance  . . 

Lookouts  and  Saloon  

Male  Prostitutes  

Man’s  Part:  thei  

Massage  Parlors  and  Baths  

Maternity:  extra-conjugal  

Mayor’s  Statement  to  the  Press  

To  City  Council  

Medical  Inspection  

Medicine:  practice  of,  law  

Men  : a closing  word  to 

Connected  with  houses  

Vicious  and  degenerate  

Messenger  Boys  

Exhibits  

Midnight  Closing:  saloons  

Midwives  

Minors  : selling  liquors  to,  law  

Admittance  to  public  dance  halls,  law 

Employment  of,  law  

Morality:  two  standards  of  

Morals  : bad  effect  of  long  hours  on 

Effect  of  fatigue  on  

Nervous  Strain  

Newsboys  

Exhibits  

Night  Walkers  : ordinance  

Obscene  Books  : law  

Obscene  and  Immoral  Pictures:  ordinance  . .. 
Occasional  Prostitute:  intelligent  treatment  of 

Ordinance  : a proposed  

Ordinance  Creating  Vice  Commission  

Organization  : vice  commission  

Owners  and  Real  Estate  Agents  

Panders  and  Cadets 

Law  

Parents  : recommendations  to  

Park  Commissioners  : recommendations  to  .... 


174 

228 

21S 

33 

II9 

121 

82 

344 

123 

290 

44 

73,  84 

282 

3 

7 

74 

338 

47 

79 

240 

242 

371.  373,  375,  377,  379 

126 

22s 

324 

325 

330 

31 

199 

200 

269 

241 

365,  367,  369 

314 

345 

346 

280 

51 

6 

4 

87 

176 

312 

64 

64 


INDEX 


397 


Patrons  of  Houses  114 

Perversion  39 

Pervert  Methods  73 

Philanthropic  and  Other  Organizations  : recommendations  to  65 

Police  29 

Recommendations  to  62 

List 70 

And  social  evil  143 

Rules  and  regulations  145 

Records  146 

On  the  beat  150 

And  houses,  assignation  hotels  and  flats 151 

And  typical  cases 151 

And  street  soliciting  152 

And  saloons  155 

And  dance  halls  158 

Preventive  Measures  253 

And  venereal  diseases  300 

Procuring  230 

Professional  Prostitute  285 

Profits  from  Prostitution  95 

Sale  of  liquor  in  disorderly  saloons  108 

Sale  of  liquor  in  houses  in 

How  disorderly  saloons  make  abnormal 130 

On  beer  in  rear  room  of  disorderly  saloons 130 

On  counterfeit  drinks  131 

Prophylaxis  301 

Prostitution  as  a Business  32 

And  saloon  34 

Prostitutes  : use  of  cocaine  and  morphine  by  84 

In  dance  halls  171 

In  saloon  172 

On  street  172 

Protection  of  Children  35 

Of  women  in  saloon 129 

Public  Entertainments  ; sale  of  liquor  and  ordinance  325 

Public  Parks  252 

Ravages  of  Venereal  Disease  298 

Real  Estate  Agents  87 

Recommendations  55 

Receipts:  connection  with  flat  80 

Recreational  Conditions  230 

Regulation  of  Vice:  police  rules  329 

Religious  Bodies:  recommendations  to  64 

Remedial  Measures  272 


398  THE  SOCIAL  EVIL  IN  CHICAGO 

Rent  of  Assignation  Rooms  over  Saloons  131 

Report  Presented  to  City  Council  10 

Rescue  and  Reform  45,  261 

Rescue  Home 284 

Residential  Districts  72 

Prostitution  in  238 

Research  Committee  of  Committee  of  Fourteen  231 

Resolution  ; presented  to  Mayor  i 

Commemorating  death  of  Dr.  James  Nevins  Hyde  8 

Of  appreciation  21 

Robbing  in  Saloons  126 

Salesgirls  : wages  205 

Temptations  207 

Saloon  and  Prostitution 34 

Profits  from  sale  of  liquor  in  disorderly  108 

And  social  evil  119 

, And  brewers  120 

Liquor  Dealers’  protective  association  and  121 

Licenses  ; . 121 

Advertising  122 

And  lookouts  123 

Bartenders  and  waiters  in  disorderly  123 

And  entertainment  125 

And  midnight  closing  126 

And  dance  halls  126 

And  prostitution  127 

And  police  I5S 

And  prostitutes  ' 172 

Ordinance  319,  320 

License  fee 321 

Seduction:  law  31 1 

Semi-delinquent  Girls:  intelligent  treatment  of 280 

Semi-professional  Prostitutes  271 

Sex  Education  36 

Sexual  Matters  : lack  of  knowledge  of 268 

Social  Evil  and  its  Medical  Aspects  ; ■ 289 

Social  Evil  and  Saloon  119 

And  police  I43 

Solicitation  73 

On  street  91 

In  saloon  129 

Sources  of  Supply  • 39,  163 

State  Authorities:  recommendations  to  56 

Sterility  : female  - ^99 


INDEX 


399 


Street  Solicitation  91 

Police  152 

Prostitutes  172 

Street  : lack  of  supervision  on  265 

Street  Vendors  242 

Study  of  the  Commission  : outline  of 13 

Subnormality  ; 228 

I Supply  : sources  of  . . .• 39 

! Tables  : data  regarding  thirty  inmates  166 

[ Conditions  in  seven  police  precincts  357 

Hotels,  flats  and  saloons  investigation  358 

: Houses,  hotels,  assignation  houses  investigated  359 

! Saloons  investigated  360 

Houses,  hotels,  assignation  houses,  saloons  investigated  361 

i T HEATRES : cheap  247 

^ Theatrical  Agents  266 

j Thefts  and  Crime  '74 

I Typical  Cases  : houses,  flats,  assignation  rooms  and  hotels  75 

Owners  and  real  estate  agents  89 

Street  solicitation  92 

Saloons  132 

Police  151 

Dance  halls  210 

Department  stores  210 

Amusement  parks  213 

Lake  steamCrs  216 

Employment  agencies  219 

Midwives  ■ 225 

United  States  Army  and  Venereal  Disease  302 

Vagabonds  and  Vagrants:  ordinance  315 

Law  316 

Venereal  Disease;  among  children  241 

Treatment  of  278,  291 

Vulgarity  in  Saloon  129 

Wages  : payment  due,  law  337 

Wine  Rooms:  ordinance 322 

White  Slave  Traffic  41 

Wholesale  Liquor  Dealers  119,  122 

Women  : unfortunate,  how  can  be  rescued  46 

How  enter  life  through  saloon  127 


t 


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C532S 


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